I was delighted to discover What art does: an unfinished theory by Brian Eno and Bette A. 

Many profound ideas are packed into this small, 122 page book, accompanied by beautiful layouts and illustrations. It invited me to reflect on what art actually is and what we, as artists, can offer to our audiences.

I also found a video in which Brian Eno introduces the book, published by Faber & Faber. It helped me better understand the ideas behind the book and his thoughts on art.
Brian Eno on What Art Does (link)


I would like to share a few passages that particularly resonated with me:

Art can always be otherwise (Chapter 1: art, p. 16) 
Art is a way of making feelings happen

(Chapter 1: art, p. 21)

(...) there is a one-way flow: from the artist’s imagination into the object and then from the object into the viewer’s mind. The art object in that view is a kind of transmitter.
(...) another view: that an art object doesn’t have any intrinsic meaning, but it actually a trigger, a way of causing something to happen in your mind.

(Chapter 5: take haircuts for instance, pp. 52–53)

art changes how we feel about our feelings

(Chapter 7: how does art change me?, p. 80)

Art suggests new place to direct our attention

(Chapter 7: how does art change me?, p. 103)

being together in art is an agreement to share some feelings with each other. (...) Art makes communities

(Chapter 8: how does art change us?, pp. 102–103)

In art, we try out new possible worlds and other ways of being, by paying attention to our feelings about them. Art allows us to share complicated concepts and feelings with each other. This cultural conversation opens doors to shifts – in ourselves and in society. Art shepherds change

(Chapter 9: we start worlds, p. 108)

The publisher has shared a few pages from the book:

This perspective makes a great deal of sense to me. Art has more space for expression than for function, which is why every artwork is unique and carries the artist's own thoughts, even when different artists explore the same subject.

I also love the sentence, "Art is proof of care." As artists, we choose subjects that matter to us and interpret them through our own forms of expression. When we share our work, we also care deeply about our audiences and hope to create a sense of community through our art.


I really enjoyed reading this book because it reminded me of what art is and why I create it. I have a feeling I will discover new insights every time I return to it.