Artfully Learning Audio Series Episode 19: The Art of Time

Art, education and philosophy are intrinsically linked as they each utilize a certain vocabulary and experiential means to explore fundamental questions, such as those concerning existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and syntax. These concepts are often synthesized by professional artists and educators in statements (i.e. an artist’s statement and teaching philosophy) explaining their logical intent behind the work they do in the studio, classroom or community.

In all of these disciplines, time is an important construct. Philosophy has wrestled with the question of time and how we experience it. Does time have a substance and, if so, what is it made of? How do we know that time really exists? Does time have a beginning and an end? Is it a straight line or a circle? 

While these are often abstract and complex inquiries, art might have some potential answers in the form of tangible visual responses to these questions. Art is a record of the lived experience, and therefore is a reflection of specific moments in time. An artwork’s documentation of time is twofold in that it depicts the contemporaneous action of the artist’s process, while also establishing a temporal account of the era and cultural zeitgeist when the work was created. Furthermore, art often outlasts its creator and therefore becomes a part of future eras and later discourse, interpretation and analysis (I have written several posts on artistic inquiries around the concept of time. See: “Artfully documenting, contextualizing and transcending time,” “Timelessly Artful” and “Timeless Pieces of Art for Purposeful Learning”).

Kerry Langsdale is a philosopher and artist. She is currently a PhD researcher at the University of Nottingham, with a focus on the metaphysics of time. Her research and passion for art has inspired an ongoing project called “The Art of Time,” which is an art centered collaboration with both working artists and the public exploring the philosophy of time through the lens of contemporary fine art. 

The intention is for “The Art of Time” series to be mutually beneficial for the fields of philosophy and art. Langsdale lends support to artists who are interested in exploring themes of time and temporality in their creative practice. She leads workshops that make philosophical concepts accessible to non-philosophers and tailored to the artists. These workshops involve experimenting with time based media and materials to present time as the underpinning context of a work of art.

This episode is now available on the Artfully Learning YouTube channel (please be sure to subscribe so you get notified about future episodes!).

You can also listen to it below: