One of the wisest definitions of art that I have heard is that “art is an aesthetic expression which tells us something about what it means to be human.” Because human existence is so rich and versatile, this definition encompasses very many aesthetic expressions, far beyond what may be narrowly defined as beautiful or aesthetically pleasing. Nonetheless, art, through the entire history of aesthetic expression, has depicted and interpreted the human body which – par excellence – tells us something about what it means to be human.
A couple of years ago, I shot this short movie clip below of my son while he was rehearsing his karate katas in the warm light of the setting sun on a greek island. Or rather, the shadow of his body cast against a plaster wall. Maybe it was being in Greece, but to me the clip looks like a live animation of an ancient greek vase motif. While the movie clip itself may not be a work of art, my 10 years old son’s movements while practicing his martial art, definitely tells a lot about what it means to be human.
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