This post was prompted by something I overheard recently “Those are just artefacts, not art”. The artefacts in question included bonze status, temple friezes, pottery, room screens and clothes(handmade of course!) as well as several paintings and artworks. An artefacts by definition is an object (usually of cultural or historical interest) made by a human being.
I wasn’t really sure why I had such a strong reaction to this statement. Generally speaking it’s rare something like this irks me and I spent a little time considering why that might be. I have in my home several everyday objects which I consider art – small sculptures, cushions using patchwork and quilting techniques to create patterns, handmade cups and mugs, placemats that have been hand dyed plus clothes and shoes that have been beautifully crafted. In my opinion artefacts are those same everyday objects belonging to people of a different time.
If artefacts aren’t art, then following on from that same thought process, neither are many objects in our homes. Would that mean for example William Morris wall paper in a home or a stained glass window handmade from the art nouveau period wasn’t art? Would that mean that art remains rarefied and not something that can be part of the everyday and enjoyed by the masses (i.e me)?
And that’s what I rebelled against. Art is for everyone. And, that remains a fundamental belief of mine and goes to the core of why I create art and think it’s important. Ergo, artefacts are art.