Oh my word Artist, Artiste, Artisan

What is art? How does the brain respond to beauty? Given that these connections are between vision and emotion, and that art involves an aesthetic emotional response to visual images, surely these connections must be involved, and this forms the subject of a later lecture.”–The Emerging Mind by Vilayanur Ramchandran “

He writes: “…I consider one of the most ancient questions in philosophy, psychology and anthropology, namely, what is art? What Picasso said, ‘Art is the lie that reveals the truth’, what exactly did he mean?” Art can also be defined as an express of a creative skill, born out of imagination, such as a painting, sculpture.

Art works can be provoking (MF Husain’s painting of the goddess Saraswathi), have beauty, emotional power, serenity, can express something that did not existed before.... Art is a singular noun, arts is a plural noun. There are educational institutions imparting arts: one can study liberal arts, performing arts, visual arts, abstract arts.

Artist is a person who creates art (works such as painting, sculpting). Artists can be sensitive and their works can demonstrate sensitivity, imagination, beauty and creativity. People who create art works for a living are artists, there could be others as who can dabble to create artistic works.

Raja Ravi Verma is India’s well-known artist because he gave visual representation to some of the Indian goddesses and gods.

Frank Shepard Fairey, the American street artist, designed the iconic ‘Hope’ poster of Barack Obama. Are movie stars (actors, and actresses) artists or artistes? They can practice art but they are performing artistes like musicians and singers.

To prove themselves they are artists, they can choose to work in art movies! Artiste is a person who practices performing arts such as dance (disco, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi), or singing (Pop, rock’n roll, Carnatic or Hindustani), or acting. T&T Crossover artiste Nisha B created ‘Chalo Chalo’ with Dwayne Bravo which was released on YouTube.

Artisan is a person who practices handiwork, or making things with hands. Artisan is a skilled manual worker; who could work to produce artisanal works with the aid/help of tools, or machinery. Artisans could be someone who makes hand-woven textiles, painted ceramics, leather goods, craftsman, craftswoman, blacksmith,

Dilli Haat is the hub for artisans in India’s national capital where artisans and their artisanal (adjective) works from across the country can be found. Artisanal works refer to products such as food or drinks made in non-mechanized way such as artisanal cheese in a traditional way. Have you tasted artisanal chai?

Kovuuri G Reddy