Whilst our ancestors date back to around 6 million years ago, the earliest forms of art were created by humans during the prehistoric stone age between 300,000 and 700,000 years ago. The modern form of human is thought to have evolved only 200,000 years ago.
Was art a factor for our evolution?
In this article, I will seek to explain the journey of art, why we started to create it and what it can teach us about ourselves.
The first form of prehistoric art is petroglyphs, man-made rock art otherwise known as cupules, which appeared throughout the world during the Lower Paleolithic. The oldest, dating back to perhaps as early as 700,000 BC, is the Bhimbetka and Daraki-Chattan cupules. They were discovered in two ancient quartzite caves in the Madhya region of central India.
Today art has expanded into various other forms, encompassing all forms of creative expression such as music, literature, film, sculpture and paintings.
What was the journey that art took to take us to this point?
Art began as a way to communicate messages with cave paintings illustrating man amongst beasts and progressed into part of ritual practices such as totems. Though some may argue these can not be defined as art as they were used instead as primal survival mechanisms, it cannot be denied that these eras laid the foundation of art as a whole.
From Egypt’s symmetrical art and hieroglyphics to Ancient Europe’s flawlessly created statues and precisely designed temples, art proved to be a vital part of many religions and cultures as societies developed. Illustrations have long been used to further education, detailing parts of the body or to show mathematical structures. Art has also been used as a tool for gain to convince others of messages, such as political and religious teachings. Art pushed to prominence became a display, a political tool to glamourise the lives of the wealthy.
That is until the romantic age in the 1800’s, where people would show the simple complexities of human life with an emphasis on nature, the individual and the celebration of imagination. Fragmented thoughts in the 19th and 20th centuries, however, perceived more expressive styles as a lack of effort and skill in creating stylised pieces. More expressive styles would lose their alumni with academies and be confined to poverty – only finding reverence after death, if at all. Anti and neo art movements such as dadaism emerged from this, incurring debates over realism vs. style. Though one cannot expect to inject style into their work without understanding reality first.
As the world became more interconnected, so too did the active exploration of artistic styles: Japanese Ukiyo-e paintings and geometric forms of African art played pivotal roles in shaping neo-western styles.
Free from the constraints of a particular ideology, art transforms into a far more subjective field. Art is history, it’s capable of taking us to times long past and places we can only imagine.
The definition of art today has very much progressed from the past. It is no longer exclusive and limiting. Artists can explore whatever style they may see fit. Art today is anything you want it to be.
I would argue that art has very much been a factor for our evolution, from its humble origins as primal survival mechanisms to the development and education in society today.
We create art to express ourselves, to communicate messages and to inspire those around us. Our art is an extension of ourselves, our most personal form of being.
Art is inspiring and stimulating for the human mind – it gives us visuals that make our brains tick. From it, we can make our interpretations of what others are trying to convey.
Art can teach us about our past, help us to imagine our future, to visualise places we’ve never been and things we’ve never seen. It can tell stories and it can communicate messages that we may not have been able to describe with just words.
Art teaches us perspective, empathy, to consider our thoughts. We can realise with art we are all more similar than we think, but at the same time, it allows us to see the uniqueness behind every mind and every creation.
Art is a personal experience. One in which the more we delve into, the more skills we can bring to everyday life. As we learn to analyse our decisions regarding art, we can understand ourselves better. Creating pieces of art is therapeutic in itself.
In conclusion, a greater understanding of art and its purpose can unlock different cultures, stories or eras. Its journey is wonderful and creative, unconstricted with unlimited areas to roam. Art is a powerful tool, and with it, we can learn more.