Artworks are visual and tangible objects whose physical properties have been carefully created and designed for aesthetic, decorative or functional purposes. They can also serve ritualistic or symbolic functions within a culture, depending on the context of their creation. The term can be applied to two-dimensional and three-dimensional pictorial, graphic or sculptural creations as well as ephemeral, non-tangible performances such as theater, opera and musical concerts. Artworks can be in the form of paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs as well as video art, conceptual art, and other ephemeral creations such as graffiti or installation art. The term can also be applied to the products of environmental design, whether it be gardens, landscape architecture, buildings or megalithic monuments.
Classical definitions of artworks posit that they are characterized by certain kinds of properties, including representational or mimetic properties, expressive or metaphorical properties and formal properties. These kinds of properties are said to distinguish artworks from mere real things and to make them a distinct kind of category. These categories are then used to classify works according to their aesthetic qualities. The problem with these kinds of definitions is that they ignore the fact that there are many other important properties to consider when assessing the quality or merit of an artwork.
Among the most important of these are the emotional impact, context and meaning of an artwork. The emotion evoked by an artwork may be positive, negative, or neutral and the context may be historical or contemporary, cultural or religious. An artwork can be a record of or allusion to a particular historical event, cultural movement, artistic style, genre or era. It can also be a statement about the artist or a specific issue.
The meaning of an artwork can be interpreted in a number of ways, ranging from the purely decorative to the religious or mystical. In the latter case, an artwork can be seen as a symbol or a sign of a higher spiritual value. This interpretation is particularly common in religious or mystical traditions where an artwork has been created to represent a particular deity or religious concept.
Making art can be a very beneficial experience for both children and adults. Not only does it allow individuals to express their own creativity and imaginations, but it can help develop a variety of mental skills such as problem-solving and multitasking. It can also have a profoundly positive effect on mental health, as research has shown that engaging in creative activities such as art-making significantly reduces levels of cortisol, aka the stress hormone. This is why many schools, workplaces and hospitals have incorporated the use of art in their facilities. For example, in one study, it was found that patients who were exposed to artworks experienced lower levels of pain and anxiety during treatment. This was largely due to the patients being able to engage in a flow state while working on their own art projects, which reduced their levels of pain and stress.