Different aesthetic values are found in varied cultures around the world that have been nurtured by diverse natural environments, cultural norms and moral foundations. In India, aesthetic value has evolved through interpretation and representation of spiritual and religious iconography. In India, art and relationships between the physical and the spiritual states are manifested in many types of expression including painting, sculpture, literature, dance, architecture and music. Indian creation stories and other spiritual myths are repeatedly portrayed across the genres of art and life, and the resemblances of life and love to these stories are imbued with aesthetic beauty.
In Chinese history, aesthetics were a more intellectual pursuit, with thinkers like Confucius dedicating himself to the study of art and human nature. As a result, classical Chinese art occurs largely independently of the philosophy of aesthetics and religion.
In Islamic art traditions, there is a long running debate about producing representational art. Those opposed to the artistic expression of natural forms argue that, since God created all things perfectly, human imitation is weak and offensive. As a result, most works of Islamic art are non-representational, including mosaics, mosques, and calligraphy, genres in which artistic and aesthetic tendencies can flourish without incurring theological wrath.
In contrast, in many Western traditions, creating imitations of God’s creation was viewed as homage and worship. Many great artists have used the inspiration of God, heaven and hell as the foundation of their artistic expression – glorifying the aesthetic beauty of the transcendent realm.
Read more: Aesthetics in Modern Life
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Paul Ford
Paul Ford is a Project Manager for Digital Marketing agencies in London. This website covers his interests in project management and communication.