"A work of art is an artifact that provokes an aesthetic experience" (Palmer 386)
Art in its various forms is always an eye opener and an experience so one has to approach it with an open mind. Take for example a symphony by Gustav Mahler such as the Third where the vast canvas of orchestral prowess provides a strangely philosophical and ethereal experience. In this sense the artifact is the music itself which rises to great crescendos and moves along with almost irresistible force whilst attempting to describe something which is not exactly clear. This in a nutshell is the aesthetic experience provided by the symphony and which remains firmly rooted in memory. After the work ends, one is left to think and reflect on what goes on in our lives and the aesthetic beauty of the music remains firmly and indelibly imprinted in the brain whilst continually demonstrating that philosophy is also an undying art in itself.
However there are other art forms apart from music which provoke an aesthetic experience. Take for a example a classic painting by Peter Breughel the Elder; ‘The Last Judgement’ with all its figures and action going on in the painting. When one attempts to focus on certain aspects of the work, the aesthetic experience becomes much greater as one can reflect on certain figures and their actions. The painting is riddled with indirect meanings and also has a certain sense of utter realism in it although the medieval aspect also has to be taken into account. Breughel’s paintings provide moments of thought and deep reflection an in ‘The Last Judgement’ one is made to reflect on death and its environs or what comes after death itself. The aesthetic experience is indeed a strong and powerful one and cannot be discounted in any way.
Since art has been a form of expression since the beginning of time, one can also reflect on prehistoric architecture as an art form which in its own way also provides an aesthetic experience which apart from being powerful is also quite mystical. Take as an example the prehistoric temples at Mnajdra in Malta, these are sited in a remote Southwesterly part of the island which in itself is a place of rare beauty. As soon as one observes the temples with their majestic architecture, the aesthetic experience is almost thrilling in the extreme and also provides for a different perspective on art. One may reflect on the laborious work which the builders must have gone through to achieve this monumental structure and that in itself is truly an aesthetic experience.
