Art and Culture

Do the Ties that Bind Still Hold True?

Art and culture. What is this strange tie between the two? I once thought that art simply was an element of culture. That you could not have one without the other. I definitely think that was the case thousands of years ago and probably up until the late 1800’s. I think it’s safe to say that the relationship between art and culture began in ancient times, with the very first of the great civilizations. Egypt, Greece, Rome, Babylon, etc. You can’t think of any one of them and not have certain images of their art and how they lived come to mind. (In this post I am using the word ‘art’ to mean all forms of art, both visual and performing.)

Am I right? I mentioned Egypt and you thought of hieroglyphs and pyramids. The Sphinx and the way they dressed. Perhaps you saw the infamous funerary mask of Tutankhamun. And just maybe, if you’re a little more worldly, you thought of Egyptian cuisine.

Papyrus of Ani

The Great Pyramids of Giza

Sphinx

Pharaoh wearing symbols of royalty

Funerary mask of Tutankhamun

If I say Greece, undoubtedly images of great marble temples come to mind. I wouldn’t doubt you thought of gorgeous marble sculptures of Greek gods and heroes, people wearing various Greek garb, and the criss-crossing straps of their sandals. And, if you’re at all like me, you thought of Greek food.

The Parthenon, Athens, Greece

The Goddess Athena outside the Academy of Athens

The School of Athens

As the years passed, the same happened again and again on a global scale. China, Japan, India, Cambodia, Polynesia, Africa, Europe, the Americas (most notably from Mexico to South America). I mention a place and you automatically think of architecture, clothing, art, food, ruins.

Cambodia, for example… You probably thought of the exquisite Angkor ruins (made popular on the big screen with Tomb Raider at the beginning stages of Cambodia’s tourism). Or maybe you thought of classical Cambodian dance.

Angkor Thom – Temple of Faces

Apsara dancer at Angkor Wat.

Japan…samurai, kimonos, bonsai, and sushi.

Samurai swords

Kimono – Photo by Kotoroko

Bonsai pine tree

Sushi party platter

Africa…I’m betting that you’re thinking of tribal dress (there are many), dance, and masks.

Samburu woman wearing traditional handmade accessories

Kartiak, senegal- African men dance in the party of initiation, a ceremony performed every 30 years

African masks

Mexico…Aztec step pyramids, the calendar stone, sombreros, and tacos.

Pyramid of the magician – Uxmal, Mexico

Calendar Stone – Photo by Anagoria

Large and small sombreros

Mexican street tacos with shrimp, steak, and fish

This phenomenon, as I said, continued up until the late 1800’s. The church and conventional art communities lost their hold on artists as far as what they should and shouldn’t paint, sculpt, etc. The church’s on-again, off-again demand for religious works of art pretty much just stayed off. They were no longer the main source of income for master artists of the time. Artists were finding that their skills were in demand by aristocrats and others who could afford their work. Portraits, still life paintings, landscapes, sculptures of the wealthy and various political figures. Conventional methods of painting for example, were set aside. Enter the age of modern art.

This is when artists the world over threw caution to the wind in favor of experimentation. No longer are we able to pinpoint a work of art with a particular culture. While some art movements during this time began in one particular location, they were not contained by geographical borders. Lots of people tried abstract art, cubism, surrealism, etc. And then with Dadaism and pop art, the world seemed to lose all inhibitions. No longer were they tied down by what society would think of them deviating from the norm or accepted ways and styles.

No Border Lines

Fast forward to today. Art and culture specific to certain locations may still exist in small pockets around the world. The first thing that popped into my mind is the Mexican holiday, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Full of color and ceremony and brightly decorated Calaveras (skulls) and altars.

An assortment of colorful calaveras

Oaxaca, Mexico – Traditional Mexican Dia de los Muertos altar installation

Japan and Korea still has its artists, masters of their crafts who turn out spectacular work such as this incredible pottery.

There are others to be sure, but what I feel is that much of it is intended to be kitschy and touristy. Definitely not the authentic cultural treasures that we were once used to. Now don’t get me wrong. Touristy has its place, I suppose. It definitely brings in revenue for those places. But in all seriousness, a hula girl lamp and cartoonish tikis are not reflections of the Hawaiian culture.

You may have noticed that I haven’t mentioned anything about the United States. There’s a good reason for that. The U.S. doesn’t have any one single culture. It has many. However, some states do have their own art and culture. I think it helps if the native residents have a strong tie to the land or to the people who originally inhabited the land.

Kachina doll

Santa Fe pueblo style architecture

Much of the U.S. was occupied by Native Americans. New Mexico, Arizona, and Alaska all have strong Native American ties. I’ve already mentioned Hawaii. Louisiana is very distinctive with its strong French and Cajun influence. A lot of their architecture and food can only be found there.

New Orleans architecture

Beignets (french style donuts) topped with sugar

But mainstream artists for the most part strive to be different. There is a drive for individualism, for their own unique style or a signature trademark. Subject matter is no longer bound by borders and the need to express oneself through art is just as strong as ever. Only now, culture doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with it.

Photographers from around the world travel the world, shooting a wide array of subject matter. Musicians are not even bound by language. I remember a salsa group from the 90’s, Orquesta de la Luz who became widely famous in Latin America. The band has since broken up, but the group was entirely made up of Japanese members who sang in Spanish, but did not speak Spanish. One of their biggest hits was Sin Fronteras (without borders), with lyrics like, “Salsa no tiene fronteras, la musica no tiene barreras…” “esta musica es para todos…” which roughly translates to, “salsa doesn’t have borders, music doesn’t have barriers…” “this music is for everyone…”

There are a number of white musicians doing hip hop and reggae. People from all over are learning Japanese taiko, the Maori haka, Spanish flamenco. Others are learning and reviving the art of making Samoan tapa cloth. There are innumerable chefs the world over whose specialty dishes are from areas other than from where they were born and raised. The list goes on and on. As I said, there are no borders or limitations anymore. Modern transportation has made the world a much smaller place. The internet has made it even smaller. You can Google search and YouTube how to do just about anything these days. And I suppose that includes learning about other places, other cultures, other peoples’ expressions through art.

Seido Taiko

Haka

Flamenco

On one hand, it makes me a little sad that the art and cultures of old seem to be dying out. On the other, I am grateful that I don’t have to conform and that I am free to do what I want and create what I want in the way that I want to create them. I am also very grateful that there are small groups out there, whether that is part of their family history or not, who are interested and who are willing to attempt to revive the old ways, the old art and culture before they are lost to us for good.