Art

Art can be defined as the product or process of deliberate arrangement of elements in a manner to affect the emotion or senses of a viewer (Tolstoy, pp.28). A diverse range of human activities, forms of expression and creations encompass art. These would include visual and the performing arts that entail music, sculpture, paintings, literature and film among others.

Visual art is the form of art that mainly produce works that can be appreciated visually (Bell, pp. 17). These include paintings, drawings, videos and films, fashion, photographs, graffiti, tattoos and even crafts.  Visual art can also be broken down to performing arts (plays, drama and other human performances), textile arts (fashion and fabric work), and conceptual art (artistic manipulation and representation of concepts). According to Bell, visual art is not only used for its aesthetic value but also for its practical application in industrial design, decorative art, fashion design, graphic design and also interior design. He adds that the aesthetic value of a piece of work may differ with its use among different users (pp. 19).

Tolstoy adds that art has been seen to adhere to certain principles and elements that complete the different forms we have. Principles and elements of art include visual elements that are used to produce different works of art. These include line, shape and color with an addition of space, balance and movement. The use of color line and space has the capability of creating movement balance and space in a peace of art. Artists use these principles and elements of art to create works that send a message, affect emotion or are for aesthetic value (pp, 28). Visual art utilizes the elements and principles of art in that artists use color to make paintings, lines for drawings and also paintings, space in their drawings and paintings and also the creation of balance space and movement through the use of line color in their pieces of work.

Different forms of visual art are products of different artists being inspired by personal preferences, different people, events, emotional experiences andor other factors in creating different forms of visual art (Tolstoy, pp. 28). Visual art and fine art are closely interrelated. Fine art utilizes the elements and principles of art and takes a wide range of scope from paintings, to calligraphy, music and dance among others. The difference between fine art and visual art is that fine art is purely for aesthetic value unlike visual art that can be used in industrial application such as sculptures. Fine art can be termed as visual art is it is appreciated though seeing.

This essay will concentrate on the appreciation of visual art in the fashion industry. Different visual art forms have been used in the fashion industry based on the preference of the artist, collector or the designer. Designers may choose to produce various visual works of art or even collect them.

Collectors of visual works of art include photographers and collectors of antiques, paintings and other visual works who range from individual designers to museum employees (Abbott, pp. 22). Their work involves the collection and arrangement of these works of art in a manner that will affect the emotion or sense of the viewer in the message it conveys. The works of such an artist may also be for aesthetic value if not both to convey a message and for beauty. These artists also serve the function of storing history and events (Fashion Projects, para 1). The photographs and items collected act as a preservation of the information or art work conveyed therein which can be reviewed in future. In fashion, these collections (photographs and other items) are used for beauty as well as different functional uses. An example would be the imprints of iconic figures pictures on fabric such as bags, t-shirts, pendants and even shoes (Abbott, pp. 36).

The book Bodies of Inscription A cultural History of the Modern Tattoo community by DeMello shows that tattoos and body arts are now more than ever used by different individuals as fashion statements and also as memorabilia (DeMello, pp.165  191). Muslim societies conduct body art through the use of henna, a substance that can create images on a persons body (Tunkara, para. 1).

The images are semi-permanent and fade off in the long run. This practice is mostly done for occasions such as weddings and the religious celebration of Idd that follows the holy month of Ramaddhan by the Muslim community. It is haram (against the law) to have tattoos drawn on the body of a Muslim (Tunkara, para. 3). However, women are allowed to have body art done on them as a sign of beauty.  Some individuals prefer permanent or temporary tattoos on their bodies as a fashion statement. They may have images of flowers, animals, buildings, iconic legends and other subjects to be imprinted on different part of their bodies.

 Ornaments are a form of visual art in fashion. Some ornaments are carved, engraved, embossed or even woven (Abbott, pp. 27). The value of such forms or art in fashion may be purely symbolic, functional or even just for fashion depending on the wearer. African jewelry is sometimes made from carvings of African wild animals such as the elephant, giraffe or the antelope. American patriotism can be shown through fashion be creating pendants that have the American flag, a picture of a favorite head of state or even a famous building that could be a landmark. In other instances, the environment may inspire designers to come up with fashion objects such as dressed, ornament and shoes. Print shirts and dresses have been a favorite for different clients at different points in the fashion industry. These prints could be of flowers, landscape pieces or even different animals. Whether for beauty or for passing messages, the environment has inspired different art forms.

Politics has also inspired different forms of fashion designs (Abbott, pp. 124). Presidential campaigns in the United States and other democracies are usually marked by the use of different fashion items as a means of advertisement, awareness for the campaigns and also as a form of identity to the political association of the person wearing the fashion piece. The recent political campaigns that saw president Obama elected to office was marked by the use of T- shirts, caps, shoes, dresses and menswear in campaign and awareness creation. They carried the message YES WE CAN and other pro Obama messages.

Fashion shows have been organized in which different designers showcased their talents in creating designs from fabric and other materials to either pass a message or just create clothes, shoes and styles that appeal to viewers and the buyers of the fashion wares. These fashion shows usually have a theme under which designers are guided on the kind of designs to come up with and at times the kind of material to choose. Fashion shows are mainly conducted for the publicity of the availability of new designs and also as a form of marketing (Abbott, pp. 23).

Some fashion products that entail visual art are functional in use. Worn around the neck or arm, rosaries are used by the Catholic faithful in prayer hence their function in religion (Tolstoy, pp. xiv, xxi and pp. 47). Buddhists and Muslims have chains that are made of marble like materials that are to woven together through a string and they use them for prayer. When not in use they are usually tied on their waists. Some forms of visual designs are used in official attire such as uniforms. Symbols and other images are also used in uniforms create a sense of identity and pride to the organization they belong to. These would include logos and emblems pinned on clothes, particular colors used and even designs. The functional aspect of the fashion item in this case goes beyond the look to serve its representation (Bell, pp. 59).

The contribution of visual art is seen as wide and personal to individuals. This is because different people use different forms of visual art representation on their fashion items. Another reason is because different people are appealed by different forms of fashion represented differently. The appreciation of the different forms of art is seen by the enthusiasm with which people wear these fashion items and also the demand these products command in the fashion industry markets.