Works of art that can be seen or are visual in nature are known as visual art. These include architecture, painting, drawing, ceramics, printmaking, design crafts as well as modern arts like filmmaking, video and photography.
The definition is not a strict one as a number of artistic disciplines, for instance textile art, conceptual art and performing art, involve certain aspects of the visual arts. Applied art forms like graphic design, interior design, fashion design, decorative art and industrial design are also included under the visual arts.
Today the term visual art encompasses both fine arts, and applied arts and crafts, but this is a comparatively new concept. Earlier the term artist was restricted to people working in the fine arts fields like printmaking, sculpture and painting. The term was not used in the context of individuals involved in craft, handicraft or applied art media. However, this changed with the Arts and Crafts movement at the turn of the 20th century.
Sculptures of famous men and women found at public places, photographs in various magazines, the comic art, the tapestry in houses and beautiful ceramic trinkets are all examples of visual arts and are created by visual artists. These artists can transform raw materials like a block of marble, unused film or colors into exquisite works of art.
The main difference between performance arts and visual arts is that in case of the former the performance itself is art, while in case of the latter the product of the efforts put in by an artist is called the work of art. |
