Musicians can capture us with a virtuoso performance and change our mood with melody and rhythms. Some storytellers, writers and filmmakers take us into a wonderland so compelling that their story becomes our very own experience. And visual artists can show us views and aspects of nature that we have never seen and felt before, or convey ideas that make us look at things from a different angle.

Art extends our experience and knowledge of life, and the more convincing the artwork is, the more profoundly we are moved or changed.

Art can be anything from a challenge, soul food, to entertainment, or a mix of all three. Sometimes, we don’t feel like listening to a symphony, but are in the mood for a simple and upbeat song that keeps us company while we are doing housework. There are times when instead of an umukai or a three-course dinner, we just want to snack straight out of the fridge. And to put on the wall in the rental unit, we might choose something happy and uncomplicated that matches the curtains and the sofa.

Moody records
Artworks are records of the very different states of our minds. They are chronicles of cultures and convey information on social dynamics, as well as moods, attitudes and trends. They can show concerns for our environment or reveal personal thoughts, and many artists document their ideas about the process of art itself, in compositions of forms and colours. There is an art for everyone and every situation, and if you decide you don’t care for a certain painting, you can be almost sure that someone else will love exactly that one.

There are big differences in the quality of artworks, which depends on the reasons and the particular motivation why they were created. The reason why a viewer likes a work of art is quite often another one. To fully appreciate art, we have to see it in context with the artist, the culture and environment it was created in.

An artwork can be the result of weeks and months of dedicated work, or it can be a happy and spontaneous group activity by children at a birthday party. Some art is the outcome of many years of study, a complicated process of thought, or a statement of identity, but the footprints of someone who walked over wet concrete could also be labelled art.

The truth is, there is no clear definition of what the word “art” means, so we can call art whatever we like - and we don’t have to like everything that is called art. We can choose the art we relate to and enjoy, according to our own personalities and temperament.

Art is information
However, to put our own likes and dislikes aside can be very informative. Since art is philosophy, story telling, historic recording and psychology, it can show and tell us many things that we would easily miss, if we judge superficially.

– Judith Kunzlé, June 2006

Article 1:
The Success Story of Cook Islands Art

Article 2:
Culture and Individuality in Art

Article 3:
Art Critique

Article 4:
The Origin of Abstract Art

Article 6:
Decorative
...or deep and meaningful?