When we think of art, we may think of paintings, sculptures, carvings, and so on. These pieces of art may have existed for hundreds or even thousands of years! However, art doesn't have to be permanent. Some types of art are only meant to be seen and experienced in the present. Many artists take mundane things around them and transform them into mind-blowing art.
Origami is a Japanese art form. In origami, artists usually start with square pieces of paper. There are actually only a small number of basic origami folding techniques, but they are combined in ways to make millions of very diverse intricate designs. In origami, artists do not cut or glue. All origami art is produced only by hand-folding paper.
Satoshi Kamiya is one of the youngest master origamists. Kamiya began folding origami when he was only two. He is famous for designing dragons that require around 275 steps each. It can take up to a month to assemble! One thing that makes Kamiya's designs unique is that the crease patterns are asymmetrical, but produce symmetrical models. This is very unusual for origami, where symmetry is the norm.
Motoi Yamamoto creates patterns using salt. His work was inspired by his sister, who passed away at a young age. According to Japanese tradition, you must throw salt over yourself after you attend a funeral to cleanse yourself.
Yamamoto says that his art represents cleansing and healing and helps him keep connected to his sister. The best part of Yamamoto's art might be the dismantling ceremonies. Often, at the end of Yamamoto's exhibits in museums, the artist invites viewers to help him dismantle his art. Participants are invited to take some of the salt and return it to a body of saltwater.
Andy Goldsworthy believes that art shouldn't be permanent. He uses found materials to create art pieces in their natural environments. The artist works outside and creates structures that last for a short time. Then they are naturally destroyed by the tides, winds and other elements of their natural surroundings. He uses photography to capture his ephemeral pieces.
Sandcastles on the beach are perhaps one of the recognizable signs that it's officially summer. Professional sandcastle builders take it to a whole different level. Not only are their works filled with details, but some designs are also life-sized!
In some cultures, sand is used in a religious way. Sand mandalas created by Buddhist monks feature colourful designs made from crushed sand or rock. It is a way to worship. The mandalas carry religious symbols and like other works created by sand, they are not meant to last forever.
Some artists like to use the sidewalk to create drawings. When the drawings are viewed at the correct angle, they create the optical illusion of depth, height, and some parts might even look like they're jumping out of the concrete!
Food art, like the name suggests, uses foodstuffs to create art. Some restaurants present their food with garnishes that are amazing works of art. Popular works include conjuring swans out of apples, intricate roses from carrots, and carving detailed designs or scenes into melons.
Amezaiku is a kind of candy craft that originated in Japan. The artists shape the candy into the shape of animals and insects using their hands and other simple tools. The candy is also painted with edible colours.
This is not an easy type of art. The candy mixture has to be heated up so that it can be shaped. The artist has to get used to the heat on their hands in order to produce amezaiku. They also have to work quickly so that the mixture doesn't cool down and harden. This type of art requires the artist to blow air into the candy, which many people view as unhygienic. Other more hygienic methods have since taken over.
Even art with permanent mediums does not last forever. Some works have suffered from vandalism and thus have been decommissioned. The art may have deteriorated or been damaged to a point that it cannot be restored. Or maybe it requires too much maintenance. Whatever the reason, we should enjoy the artist's works while they last.