Oblicza przemian w Sztukach Pięknych [The nature of transformations in the Fine Arts]

This paper aims to portray a remarkably diverse range of phenomena related to transformations in art: from the transformation of sculptor’s or painter’s matter into a work of art (on the example of works of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci), through the spiritual metamorphosis of the artist whilst creating a piece, up to reciprocal flow of inspirations, feelings, emotions, and consciousness or its absence on the creation of the artefact that shapes the spiritual experiences of the audience. During the human engagement in the work of art, those phenomena can also occur with respect to faith by means of an artistic expression of a purely religious character (e.g. Vatican’s monumental and magnificent architecture). “The aging” of a piece of art or restoration activities that block this aging are examples of changes of the matter owing to the technology that changes the perception of the work over time; while, art devoted to glorifying – and inducing – social evolutions and revolutions is in the service of propaganda and politics (e.g. works created in ancient Egypt, the Third Reich, North Korea, the USSR). Artistic visions often depend on the influences of psychoactive substances on the consciousness of the artist and his perception of reality which results in its completely different reception (Witkacy’s portraits). Is such artistic vision created under the influence of substances objective? Where (if at all) in the modern world can we trace boundaries between art and non-art? This text aims to address and answer these questions and doubts