Interpretation
of Martin Heidegger “The Origin of Work of Art.”
What
is art, and how do we derive meaning from it?
We tend to consider art objects as things unto themselves, but there is
more to them. This essay is intended to
explore the essence of objects, and how art infuses them with meaning. Along the way, we will gain greater insights
to objects, their relations to us and we will discover the essence of creating
great works of art. Rather than using established
theories, we will begin our explorations through observations of a common
object: The peasant shoes as painted by Van Gogh.
The
quality of an object is derived from its utility. In this case, the shoe’s utility is revealed
when the peasant is using the shoes. As
we observe the shoes, we begin to associate their relationship to the
peasant. The association between objects
and people is called reliability. Through the artwork, we gain perspectives of the
peasant’s life, work and environment, and we gain insights to the equipmental
quality, or essence, of the shoes. It is
through utility and reliability that the truth of the shoes is disclosed.
If
the essence of a thing is found in its utility and reliability, then it is
art’s function to reveal the essence of things, or their truths. We have found that the essence of a thing
does not lie in its physical structure; it lies in its utility. This means the truth lies within the shoes
themselves, and not in our preconceived notions of the shoes. So how does art work? Art works by disclosing an objects relation
to human existence, or reliability.
“Art works universally to
display a thingly character, albeit in a wholly distinct way.” To find the work
in art, it must be removed from everything that related to its
construction. This includes the artist
and all accompanying associations with the artist. Ideas of how works are presented, housed,
sold and criticized must also be eliminated.
All of these functions pertain to the art object, but they do not its
essence.
The
essence of art, or work being, is found “uniquely within the realm that is
opened up by itself.” Work being can
only be found in a world that an art object has created for itself. A world is like an object. The truth of a world does not form within
itself but in relation to awareness.
World is non-objective, and it is present when we are aware. The structure of an art piece makes space for
its world, and it establishes a place for the works essence.
The
second part of work being, or essence, is called earth. When something is created, work makes use of materials
and forges them into things more durable, or useful. Work sets forth the object, and then it sets
itself into it. In other words, the work
is present during the creation and formation of an object, but it disappears
once the task is complete. However, the
work still resides within the object, but all traces of it are lost. As colors lose their attributes when reduced
to discussions of wavelengths, so does work lose its attributes when it is analyzed. Work reveals itself when it is appreciated on
its own terms and not with analytical investigation.
Art,
therefore, is the crafting of an object that creates and sustains its own
world, and it is populated with objects created with earth. When finished, it is not the object itself that
forms meaning, but the non-analytical appreciation of the work, the utility of
the framed objects, and their relationship to human experience.
Works
Cited
Heidegger,
Martin. “The Origin of the Work of Art.” Art 623, Aesthetics. Tiffin University. N.d.
Web. Nov 13, 2013
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