All original art and scientific discovery comes from?

Question

Comes from observations in nature?

Do you agree, or if not, where does it come from?

Answer 1

Scientific discovery does have observation of the natural world (physical universe) as its core principle. Invention is rearrangement of known principles. A "discovery" is a finding that was always there to be found in science, so scientific discovery is not the same as creative originality. Art can be an expression of natural observations, but in my philosophy art is a realm of creative expression. Art is fundamentally the expression of the imagination. When drawing or painting, I don't try to compete with a camera, with which I could obtain an exact image of my subject. Instead I try to express those things which no camera will ever capture, the things I imagine. I don't know where those thoughts come from, some are brand new first time original as far as I know.

Answer 2

They come from the biological need of the human species to develop.
The source material may be nature directly observed, as in the nice story about James Watt " inventing the steam engine " , which he did not, after watching a kettle boil. This was taught in English schools when I was a lad, rather nice in a way.
On the other hand one has Einstien speculating upon the nature of nature. The Theory of Relativity has no basis in " nature observed ", yet was still a remarkable concept. Do you think this qualifies as a discovery?
The last example is wide open to attack. But 'tis another nice story.
Once upon a time, many, many years ago, Kandinsky walked into his studio and saw against a far wall an inverted canvas, lit by sunlight. For a while he could not place it as his work, he thought it was rather wonderful. He saw something out of context. Later he became quite a remarkable non-figurative painter. As I said earlier, this is open to attack. No sweat. But he did make painted " statements " which were in advance of his time." Original art?
So all I can say is that the " original " stems from nature + the human mind, when it is receptive.

Answer 3

I think Einstein's Theory of Relativity came into existence as one of his famous mind experiments - that is as the product of his internal thinking processes. Doubtless, however, his thought processes were influenced by all his previous observations and who is to say that all of this is not natural - but just internal nature.

So I agree, unless you mean nature as in the natural world outside ourselves? There is some abstract art that I cannot associate with anything known to me - perhaps the intention of the artist?

I don't agree with considering abstract art the result of a visual defect but even if it were then that is how the artist observed the subject.

Answer 4

We are not separate from nature but part of it, so yes it is nature itself that allows the observation or discovery.
For example, flight came from observations of flying creatures .
Abstract art comes from a defect in visual or mental perception.

Answer 5

In the beginning of the Italian Renaissance (1400's) the emphasis was on creating realistic looking artwork, that is images based on nature. Giotto was one of the first artist during the very early Renaissance to revive realism in art.
The Greeks and Romans created very realistic sculpture and paintings but their realistic style was abandoned or ignored after Rome was sacked and Europe fell into the period known as the "middle ages".
Until the Renaissance most artwork was produced in what is known as the "Byzantine" style (very flat, unrealistic looking paintings done on wood panels and used for veneration or prayer. The Greek Orthodox church uses these a lot today).
Emphasis on scientific investigation outside of or not influenced by church teachings, superstitions, traditions, etc became popular during the age of the enlightenment (1600's).
My opinion would be these areas are where original art and scientific thinking come from. Maybe I'm biased ( I teach Art History and Drawing).
The comment about Abstract art coming from visual or mental defects in perception is not entirely true. Abstract art (Non-Objective art) is usually a breaking down of forms into what the artist sees as their basic structure.
Abstract artists, such as Jackson Pollock, were experimenting with trying to tap into their subconscious thought process. Pollock was a big follower of Jungian psychology and the idea of a "collective unconsciousness". His abstract paintings are mostly the result of trying to give up "personal control of the input" and let his subconciousness come forward. In other words, illustrating or giving form to an intagible concept.
Vincent Van Gogh would be a good artist to illustrate "mental defects" in perception. His "distorted" forms in his landscapes and portraits are a result of his trying to portray his reality as he saw it through the filter of a mental disorder. (Although there is no conclusive evidence of exactally what was wrong with him, my personal opinion is severe manic-depression). It makes me wonder what his artwork would have looked like if he had access to modern therapy or drugs like prozac or zoloft. Anyway I hope this helps and doesnt come across as to opinionated or "preachy"

Answer 6

That's partly true, but you can't dismiss the 10 percent inspiration part. Even though science is more rigorous than art, great scientists and inventors report having had flashes of insight leading them to discovery. Art is even more introspective. Most of what truly original artists produce first gets deeply transformed by a mix of concepts and by looking into themselves for inspiration.

Answer 7

The Fibonacci numbers and the Golden Section are a good example of what you are saying. Works of art and design based on these numbers are said to be perfect. They were discovered to be present in all nature eg. shells, leaves, bees, etc...............

Answer 8

that depends...from artist to artist...but it is mostly a combination of observing nature and having a huge culture....in the end originality is the artist's personal view of everything around...