What is art? Do we need it and does originality surpass quality?

What is the meaning of art? Where does it come from? Why do we make it, do we really need it? And what exactly is the definition of art?

Edvard Munchs, Dagen derpå

According to Wikipedia.org art is;

"A diverse range of human activities in creating visual, auditory or performing artifacts (artworks), expressing the authors imaginative or technical skill, intended to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power."

In 2014 etched shells were found made by homo erectus that walked this earth between 430.000 - 540.000 years ago that is believed to be the earliest sign of our ancestors creating art. How cool is that? Clearly it is something quite profound and ingrained in us as human beings to create just for the sake of being creative and to surround ourself with beauty.
Through all time art has been used to tell stories, to leave a mark for future generations and to enhance our surroundings.

Cave painting of a horse from the Lascaux caves, circa 16,000 BP

In history the art we know to have influenced us most is the art of some of the greatest ancient civilizations; Ancient Egypt, China, Ancient Greece, Rome, Inca and Maya. Why? Each of these civilizations were powerful, were around for a long time, they developed unique characteristics in their art styles and most importantly, their artworks survived the test of time and destruction.

The statue Laocoon from ancient Greece

Many people believe that we have passed our peak as human beings when it comes to creating art. After all, how can we compete with the great masters of the Renaissance? Will there ever be another painting of a woman as famous as Leonardo's Mona Lisa?

Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa

A reason is the new rule, which is not that new anymore by the way, is that originality surpasses quality. And at least in my book that whole concept is starting to get a bit out of control. When you can call a banana peel on the floor "art" and sell it for 100.000 $, when Damien Hirst slices a cow in half and puts in in a glass box and calls it "art" or when the cleaning lady throws away an "art installation" at a gallery because she thinks it is trash from last nights vernissage.. Then I do wonder if we have lost touch of the true essence, the foundation and meaning behind the word ART.

Damien Hirsts Cow

Should one be able to call anything art as long as you put it in a gallery or a museum? In which case, can anyone be an artist? And who is to say what is good and what is bad art? What is needed in society and what is a waste? These are questions I often talk about with fellow artists and painters. It seems it is no longer about the quality or sentiment behind the product, but more to do with WHO made it and the size of the investment. It can be disheartening and frustrating to witness a world where it seems beauty is only appreciated through unrealistically high standards of appearance and wealth.

Personally I do think we need art. I think we need art that is rooted in human nature and the nature which we come from. Art that appreciate and finds strength in what natural beauty can offer us as humans in terms of recognition and comfort. I think we as humans still have great potential to create art just as good, if not even better than out ancestors if we study history, but I do think someone needs to start a revolution to shake the art world out of the current state of chaos.

Art by Norwegian artist Bjarne Melgaard

If not, in a thousand years our time here on earth will for sure not compare well art wise to Ancient Greece or the Renaissance. I hope my art generation will be remembered for more than matchstick men, sliced animals, banana peel and trash on the floor!

What do you think?
Is the art world falling to pieces or are we part of a revolutionary new way of thinking in the ways we create art?