The Machine : Formal Art Analysis

Identifying Art As a Construct In Automotive

I think it's important to first recognize there is nothing inherently artistic about the general idea and function of machine. 

Pulled from Webster - "a machine is defined as an assemblage of parts that transmit forces, motion, and energy one to another in a predetermined manner."  It's void of anything traditionally artistic.

You can't have machine without form.  Naturally form is three dimensional and thus machine has form.  Form also happens to be one of what is commonly accepted to be the seven elements of artistic communication.  Since form is determined by having height, length and width, the machine is not exempt from having form.

Can the machine exist without having conscious decision of form.  Maybe? but I haven't been able to think of an example yet.  This is where it gets fun.  The machine can take on many different forms to be able to perform the task it was built, so artistic liberty is infinite. 

Traditionally, form is the single most heavily weighed component of a formal art analysis which is normally void of content or context on it's own.  But it plays a key role in establishing relationships between the two.  When analyzing any piece of art it's just as important to realize that what is absent it just as important as what is present.

The idea of racing or a race car is not artistic.  The winner is determined by numerical values.  It's mathematical more than anything.  But therein lies a fallacy.  When applied race cars have form.  And if machine can't exist without form and form is a defining element of art - does it become art?  Not yet, at least as far as I'm concerned.  We have all seen it; "Because Race Car".  It completely and intentionally excuses itself from any human element of expression in lieu of being assessed by numerical value.

The conscious decision to distinguish a machine through modification or expression that does not qualify as a numerical value enhancement is what makes the machine exciting.  And further, perhaps at the cost of numerical value.  After all speed is not identified at an all encompassing number but rather relative to the particular machine at hand.

As a good friend of mine, Nate, puts it - this is what allows a car to take you somewhere without having to even get in it.  When the whole has greater value than the sum of it's parts.  And that's what we care about.