What can be considered art? 

If I endeavor to throw tomato sauce against a canvas, did I just create a million-dollar art piece, or just make a ripe mess that will leave a smelly stain? If you outcry, “Imposter! No, that can’t be art!”— well, what are your reasons? Supposing that spontaneous saucy splat truly fulfilled my desire to express myself, why can it not be called art?

Is art just the pure satisfaction of expression? Or are there not standards of beauty, goodness and truth that elevate that human expression to be worthy of contemplation? Welcome to the current cultural clash of modernism vs. classical beauty. 

Let’s shift focus for a moment and ask deeper question: do you ever find yourself marveling at the experience of being human? Living in the modern 21st century, we often forget the broad and ancient historical scope of cultural, societal and artistic testament that humanity has etched upon this earth before our arrival. 

In this light, we can more profoundly ask: As a human being, what does it mean to create? How does human art mirror the work of God the Creator? 

What is this impulse of mankind to be generative? What is this act of work that brings forth something that was not before? What of this impulse to be inspired, to be possessed by a muse? Ultimately—can we encounter God through art?

For the artist, the act of creating is both a learned skill—a discipline of sorts and a veiled mystery. The inspiration, the muse that draws the heart and mind toward creating is so innate and natural, it was as if we were designed to mimic Him that created us. 

We, as creatures, whether we know of God or not, possess this ability to express outwardly an abstract interior reality living within us. In lyric, rhyme, paint, marble, sounds, dance, structure … the chosen mediums are endless to enflesh these inner experiences that to the artist must become manifest. Being an exterior reflection of the interior, we can say this expression is an unveiling, a revealing of one’s deepest truth—that of the soul. 

Now we are touching on an objective truth beyond arbitrary relativism: beauty. While true art is always beautiful, is not always pleasant. Tragedy, pain and suffering belong as much to the human experience as sweet love, ballads and sunsets. But that which is objectively ugly, perverse, grotesque, titillating—all of which only serves to satisfy our lower, base nature cannot be called beautiful. Like all things in the moral life, we must account foremost for the respect and dignity of our human nature. 

This modernistic view of pure self-expression reflects more than just ugly art, it is the attempt of the modern soul to ascribe value to their deepest, most spiritual parts in an almost violent flinging outward what the God-less hold to be most sacred: passion and emotions—(with the caveat that it must be revered and respected by the masses).

So how can art help us find God? 

Upon encountering a piece of art (mind you, this applies to more than paintings and sculptures…think movies, music, literature) —ask yourself:

• Is human nature respected and dignified or treated basely and objectified in this piece?
• Am I drawn to the contemplation of truth, goodness and beauty—or does it merely give me pleasure by satisfying my base appetites?
• Would I be comfortable encountering this image/sound mentally every day of my life?

“From heaven the Lord looks down and observes the whole human race, surveying from the royal throne all who dwell on earth. The one who fashioned the hearts of them all knows all their works.”  – Psalm 33: 13-15