Art in Cyprus

By Nicola George

What is art ?
When we sat down to discuss the creation of these pages, the first question asked was....
What is art ?

These are some of the answers we gathered, BUT before we proceed - we need, and want your opinion.

*Quick note to all you time wasters posting ad's and url's - They will not be posted - this page is monitored - grow up and go away.

These were some proffered answers :
A product of conscious intention
Self rewarding activity
A tendency to unite dissimilar things
A concern with change and variety
Aesthetic exploitation of familiarity and surprise, or tension and release
The imposition of order on disorder
The creation of illusions
Indulgence in sensuousness
The exhibition of skill
A desire to convey meanings
Indulgence in fantasy
Aggrandisement of self or others
Illustration
The heightening of existence
Revelation
Personal adornment or embellishment

The functions

To adorn
To beautify
To express
To illustrate
To mediate
To persuade
To record
To provoke
To redefine reality
To redefine art
Gives meaning to life
Gives un-self-conscious experience
Provides paradigms of order and/or disorder
Trains perceptions of reality
Therapy

Our readers have some other ideas - here are some of them;

Art is human expression of beauty by manipulation of elements.
My definition of art is: an image that circulates the mind with further discovery.
My definition of art is: a perception of someones thoughts, beliefs, and visions.
My definition of art is: replication of the beauty of the inner working arrangements of mathematics building a devine entity.
My definition of art is: the exhibition of skill.
My definition of art is: imagination!!!
My definition of art is: the beauty of life.
My definition of art is: The ability to communicate your inner-most being.
My definition of art is: beautiful landscape.
My definition of art is: A way of expressing one's inner self through another form of language.
the spirit of humankind manifested in tangible objects.
My definition of art is: a useful way to occupy otherwise useless time.
My definition of art is: That which is created by another person to help the rest of us see that which God has created in a new light.
My definition of art is: Inner consciousness given an outlet for the world to see.
My definition of art is: an inspiration one is filled with that needs to be expressed in a medium.
My definition of art is: the capturing of moments of beauty.
My definition of art is: Self rewarding activity.
My definition of art is: that which adds an aesthetic element to our lives through colour shape and form made by man.
My definition of art is: If you send your embroidery designs which you received from your customers to us , we can do it for you at a lower price.
My definition of art is: a self expression of your abilities in various forms or strands of art.
My definition of art is: A piece of some ones heart and mind let free with colors and emotions unimaginable.
My definition of art is: Whatever you do in your life"" is an art. i.e. you do thing according to your interest and nake.
My definition of art is: showing the content of your heart.
My definition of art is: the ability to express ones self through dancing, playing music, writing (poetry, text), craft..
My definition of art is: to be able to be happy in the silence of solitude.
My definition of art is: putting your imagination into something you make yourself which you will treasure forever because you have ""given birth"" to it.
My definition of art is: Art is a process, from blank to full.
My definition of art is: Something created by a person that gets its intended message across.
My definition of art is: something that makes me feel good, be it a painting, dress, or piece of pottery.
My definition of art is: entertainment.
My definition of art is: imagination and new discoveries.
My definition of art is: Something only you can see yet in some form are able to show the world.
My definition of art is: a mirror of live.
My definition of art is: a channel for the soul-to stimulate/inspire the souls and intelligence of others.
My definition of art is: An exploration of the soul in a state of pure joy and creation.
My definition of art is: the inner most expression of the mind, body and soul.
My definition of art is: compiles in a familiar medium, reflecting and introspecting experiences, wishes, dreams, life.
My definition of art is :All to share.
My definition of art is: I think art is something tangible or intangible that touches people's soul, something that stirs the soul. Anything from music, literature, photographs, paintings, etc..
My definition of art is: Something enchanting.
My definition of art is: human spirit in visual form.
My definition of art is: Something that makes you think, could be beautiful, could be ugly, could be awe inspiring... It is also something someone created that you might have never considered art.
My definition of art is: Something that changes/impacts on the way we look at life.
My definition of art is: beauty and pain in one.
My definition of art is: this is free thing from your head what you can make to realize.
My definition of art is: anything that makes me feel good at its sight ,taste, feel, hearing.
My definition of art is: creative and giving out sign of intelligence.
My definition of art cannot be described with all the faltering words that vocabulary possesses but if I must I'll do my best to express the beauty of the nomeratic extensency of the beauty that dwells deep in my bosom about the subject which has been placed before me. Art is beauty, the beauty that can only be seen inside the soul of the artist. Art explains life and its exterpeants. Art is something best left to the originals. For only they can totally comprehend the extensiveness of it all through dematations of extreme meditation that can only be experienced in the jungles of north Korea. once you find this inner peace and have a full comprehension for art you will be lifted in the end of this dispensation.
My definition of art is: I fink it is impossible to Judge Art In any Form as What Can Work 4 1 Person may Not For The Other. What More do I Need To Say. Sum Drive BMW's others Mercedes its all down to Personal Choice.
My definition of art is: The oldest form of language there is; through it we express ideas visually through the use of different media. How close we come to communicating what it was we intended depends on our level of devotion to acquiring the skill to manipulate the medium we have chosen.
My definition of art is: a manner of expressing own self for personal/social matter through/with different medium...the body for a dancer for example.
My definition of art is: self-comfort of peacefulness and originality.
My definition of art is: anything that is defined by an art curator (unfortunately).
My definition of art is: Art has meaning that is created in a moment, that is the moment of viewing, creating, reacting and or living. Art is created in the emotion and relation that one has with it, which may be different.
My definition of art is: the language of god.
My definition of art is: something which flows with the natural rhythms of life be they simple or complex.
My definition of art is: It is a mystical and miraculous part of the universal soul's journey.
My definition of art is: artitict.
My definition of art is: Whatever you want it to be.
My definition of art is: my personal form of knowing, incorporating experience and abstract knowledge.
My definition of art is: anything that captures your imagination, both visual and written.
My definition of art is: For me, art is the only way that I can express my inter feelings and emotions through something concrete and visual, without physically saying a single word!
My definition of art is: the expression of the human being...his emotion, his thoughts, his soul. art is a passageway to serenity and peace for the soul.
My definition of art is: Gods breath on mankind.
My definition of art is: it involves a group of different activities that includes dance, painting, etc.
My definition of art is: something that a person thinks is beautiful to them. Something that comes from the heart. Liking art myself, this is my opinion. Art is a beautiful thing that comes from within. It is something that the artist themselves think of.
My definition of art is: something that makes you feel god about what you see every day when you look outside, the way you sense if the day will be good or not.
My definition of art is:
I m an artists kind of painter. I generally work on abstract and nude figures. My opinion for art its a very huge and global and given any important messages around the world or while living in your life. Artists r sender and spectators r receiver our messages from any kind of things.
My definition of art is: art is everything...nothing is not art.
My definition of art is: anything beautiful (or not beautiful) that touches my feelings.
My definition of art is: Love
My definition of art is: the way we view what we see around us. Art surrounds us if we can see it.
My definition of art is: it is the creation of imaginations or illusions that we have in mind.
My definition of art is: the result of highest motion of some one.
My definition of art is: A product of conscious intention.
My definition of art is: Everything and nothing.
My definition of art is:
Any form of created work which fulfils the artist and/or the viewer. Hopefully both but whatever makes your bell jangle.
My definition of art is:
a visual experience that has a profound effect on the soul.
My definition of art is: when men or woman are willing to draw or colour something.
EX.I (Danielle Johnson from Cherokee) loves to draw anything on my free time. I will always draw. I have done it since I was 7 years old, and right now I am 24 years old. I have a 3 ring binder that is 3in thick and not all of my drawing fit. right now i have over 300 drawings that are really neat, and I won't sell them because everyone that gets one will try to copy and sell it as there own.
My definition of art is: a reinterpretation of reality based on a human being's personal aesthetic value judgements.
My definition of art is: A representation of the relation between the artist and subject; the creative eye can bring another world into existence.
My definition of art is: A large brown water fowl of the North African region with 6 finger and is commonly called ""Trevor"" by the natives.
My definition of art is: Paintings, murals, and architecture.
My definition of art is: the expression of nature through the hands of man.
My definition of art is: to enjoy another's work in all its forms.
My definition of art is: Classical Music Opera Ballet.
My definition of art is: A man or woman made object or image that pleases or intrigues.
My definition of art is: to express feeling and the emotions what is in our hearts and the complete picture of our mind reading.
the lines and the way of patches of brush describes the complete lay out of the picture.
art is very sensitive and touching as the flow of water colours.
art is complete inner satisfaction according to me.
My definition of art is: serenity, peace, tranquillity, war strife, life!
My definition of art is: Art is a personal thing. For myself it's very emotional.
My definition of art is: Re-inventing the work of God and not quite getting there.
My definition of art is: art is a manipulated material that is made to look different and interesting with the use of a variety of raw or man made materials.
My definition of art is: when you can manipulate something dull and boring into a beautiful, pretty, interesting and unique thing, it is then a piece of art.
My definition of art is: It's like a road map of an individual's spirituality!
My definition of art is: a window of life as it was and as it is and how it is perceived by both the artist and the observer. It is the past and present as seen from many points of view, not necessarily conventional. It is essential and exciting.
My definition of art is: We are manufacturer and Exporters of Onyx/Marble, Handicrafts, Table Sets, Wood, Brass decorative and traditional handicrafts. Floor Tile and Marble etc. and many other items. We welcome inquiry of your specific interest.
My definition of art is: the creation of something which serves a purpose in someone's life - be it of enjoyment from a painting or be it of the use and enjoyment from a designed object.
My definition of art is: the means of communication for the cultural and historical contexts of what it is to be human.
My definition of art is: art is reflection of a mind and art present comprehensively the culture of the era and minds of people.
My definition of art is: Sculpture.
My definition of art is: Any thing that touches me emotionally.
My definition of art is:
The relationship and interaction between space and solid matter.
My definition of art is: expressing a dimension of life.
My definition of art is: THE PHYSICAL CREATION OF THE ARTISTS MIND.
My definition of art is: the expression of one's personality or inner thoughts created in a tangible way but made cryptic as to not express the true meaning to those who don't understand.
My definition of art is: In Cyprus's case its traditional designs and mosaics.
My definition of art is: The expression of the soul through poetry music dance and other forms of entertainment such as the art of stand up comedy.
My definition of art is: the inability to live without, the ability to dream within and the urge to create something of little significance to others to last through time itself, even after you expire. cp.
My definition of art is: looking past the obvious.
My definition of art is: a thought or soul provoking image.
My definition of art is: Blah.
My definition of art is: The representation, in tangible form, of love, life, hate, death, reality, nature, spirit, theos, man, woman, eternity, space.
My definition of art is: some thing that you experience by one of your six senses.
My definition of art is: The link that has to be found in order to establish the missing link between God and Humans.
My definition of art is: graphic design.
My definition of art is: something beautiful and unique
My definition of art is: something a human being or super natural things appear in a way that is beautiful and craptacularly special.
My definition of art is: Art is everything you want it to be and a million different things to its audience. Art is self expression and can produce the most profound emotions in those who experience it.
My definition of art is: a very interesting hobby.
My definition of art is: the first art for me is the language which make us like one mind...this a gift of God.
Nectarios Konstandinou
My definition of art is: to be an artist one must be in love with themselves and to enjoy every small detail ,to mix there love with all surroundings that creates art.
My definition of art is: the way we interpret the world around us.
My definition of art is: art is the way u express yourself in a way of knowing and hoping others will also see. it is also a way for others to help themselves escape through ur work.
My definition of art is: creativity understandings for the beauty. Vasie Cretzaris.
My definition of art is: art is a mirror of life and it can also be defined as any ability to create any thing either by drawing of painting.
My definition of art is feeling of sex appealing!
My definition of art is: Anything is art it is all around us.
My definition of art is: The moment of inspiration captured in an object, inspiring a subject.
My definition of art is: a cultura, uma parte da história de cada país.
My definition of art is: any thing that makes an impression on you personally ARt is a very personal thing and if it gets any kind of reaction excited or peace or makes you question or gives enjoyment of any kind. Then that is ART.
My definition of art is: Lefkara Lace on Irish Linen with French thread.
My definition of art is: art is to load a different meaning to one object, out of it's presence.
My definition of art is: it is a moment when time and space are invisible and something new is born.
My definition of art is: Have a look at Yiorkos Skotinos' work and get inspired. Then you will know what art is!
My definition of art is: Definition of GOOD Art - Intelligent Emotional Visual Communication.
My definition of art is: the ability to express yourself through drawings/images, and the way everyone sees an image from a different angle.
My definition of art is: expressions self through middle eastern dance...im welsh.
My definition of art is: expressing your self to unleash your imagination art is a part of everybody's life a way of extending your talents!!
My definition of art is: pur shit.
My definition of art is: Personal will to make everyday life more beautiful (applied art) or means for an individual to express himself, and to influence, without rational discourse, emotionally, those around him.
My definition of art is: Bonjour! What a super websight! Very refreshing to peruse from where we live in Paris (France). I eat frogs and drink wine. Would like more information on this. Best regards! Mikael.
My definition of art is: something that can make you smile or cry or laugh or angry, but will always make you think.
My definition of art is: art is some thing you do with love and it is a talent given by god.
My definition of art is: church of Agios Georgios Perachoritis.
My definition of art is: to do, say, sing, shout, scream, write, paint, plough, plant, eat, cook, smoke, tell lies ,tell the truth, when i want to, when i don't want to, when i need to, and how i like...whether the rest of the world likes it or not is another matter. if YOU call it art its YOUR art even if its placing one stone on top of another.
My definition of art is: something that leaves you feeling better with yourself and or the world after you have viewed or been involved with it.
My definition of art is: an expression of ones inner translation of ones environment.
My definition of art is: When something that comes from the deepest part of your heart & u'v got 2 let it out, whether its in drama, poetry, compositions, painting or music, ART is produced.
My definition of art is: An outward physical display of inner creativity expressed in almost any form.
My definition of art is: there is no such a thing as art. Art is a Sun, Art is the Earth. She became a mistress of wind, and seduce the rain. She plays with colours and stays in your soul...always and over again.