For many years I have believed that building model railways is a genuine form of art. We take an abstract idea and turn it into something that can be seen and enjoyed by others. It could be said that model railways are 3 dimensional moving artworks. I think building a layout is just as valid an art form as painting or sculpting. Yes there are some great model railways and some poor ones, there are some layouts you would pay to see and some your would happily throw in the bin, but the same applies to paintings.

I think we should be more forceful on this and see ourselves as artists. We should describe our layouts as works of art to others. After all, building a fully scenic layout takes a lot of different skills and deserves to be seen as rather more than just playing with trains.

Just wondering what others think?

I am a kind of artist. 

I think you could probably make a similar argument for many activities as well as model railways.
OXFORD DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF ART - 'The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power'

Probably depends on how good your layout looks, operates etc.
I certainly wouldn't call my layout a work of art yet, probably not even art in progress.

Chris, Steve, I'm 100% with you both.   

I think Chris has a fair point. Let's face it, when you see some of the inordinate amounts spent on  by Tracey Emin and the like, I reckon my efforts should be revalued (up from nothing).
My art teacher said once in a report "his work always turned out how I expected it to be" - so that was good, eh?
It's only what the individual sees in a piece of work that determines, in their mind, whether it is art or rubbish. I am very much taken by local Leyland artist Jack Schitt's work

Quote from: Steve Brassett on May 13, 2016, 11:18:27 AM
I am a kind of artist. 

I'll drunk to that.

Quote from: newportnobby on May 13, 2016, 12:08:28 PM
Let's face it, when you see some of the inordinate amounts spent on  by Tracey Emin and the like, I reckon my efforts should be revalued (up from nothing).

Right, let's nip this "modern art is rubbish" blossom in the bud. Modern art is nothing to do with pretty pictures. Your Rubens and Da Vincis are, because in those days the best art was the most realistic. Invent the camera and suddenly everyone can make realistic pictures. So modern art is about something else -- challenging the way the viewer (and by extension, society) thinks.

Tracey Emin's unmade bed piece isn't about the bed as such, but about the state of mind that allows a person to live in such squalor. Something many viewers can relate to.

This is a whole separate issue to why some modern art is worth millions and some isn't. In all honesty that comes down to the art critics who hype up on artist while playing down another. Modern art is a business, or more specifically a way for business to make investments and patronise the development of contemporary artists generally.

You are free to call your model railway art if you want to, but the question for a modern art critic is whether it forces the view to reappraise their beliefs or assumptions. To give you a tangible example, there's a Polish artist who created a (mock) LEGO packaged product version of a concentration camp. The modelling skill is excellent, but it's clearly very different to someone who simply makes LEGO cars or houses from their own imagination.

http://www.othervoices.org/2.1/feinstein/auschwitz.php

There's lots of modern art I don't like or understand, but before dismissing a piece, you do need to think about what's trying to be said. Sometimes it is very cynical and there's like a mass production of Damian Hursts and the like ready to be sold to the highest bidder. But sometimes modern art pieces are thoughtful and worth looking at.

Cheers, NeMo

I wouldn't suggest railway modellers can be compared to famous artists. I see us more as on a par with the many amateur painters or photographers spending their spare time creating their take on a subject. They gains pleasure from what they have created and are appreciated by others but are unlikely to change the way the world thinks.

Maybe building model railways is an artistic outlet for people who don't  realise they have any artistic tendencies!

I consider myself to be more of a theatre director.

My "actors" are my locos, with a supporting cast of coaches/wagon.

There is some "decor" but I have to confess it is rather minimalist.

Best regards,


Joe
P.S. I think is probably the most intellectual post I have ever posted on this forum 

The answer to the question is almost certainly 'no'.

I consider myself an engineer in this respect. I'm dreading having to do scenery. There are others on here who have expressed the same sentiment.

While it could be argued that there are other aspects that might be considered art, it's mainly the visual representation that's generally considered 'artistic' (note: this is a generalisation, YMMV).

But as Nemo has observed, it's the intention behind the work which really determines its status. Just representation doesn't cut the mustard.

The answer is no, modelling is more akin to handicrafts. Modelling ( especially rail) is representing
a real object in miniature as  precisely as possible , so there is no room for personal interpretation.

Quote from: NeMo on May 13, 2016, 12:49:17 PM

Right, let's nip this "modern art is rubbish" blossom in the bud.
There's lots of modern art I don't like or understand, but before dismissing a piece, you do need to think about what's trying to be said.

Sorry - did you miss this piece of my post?

Quote from: newportnobby on May 13, 2016, 12:08:28 PM

It's only what the individual sees in a piece of work that determines, in their mind, whether it is art or rubbish.

In other words, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
My opinion stands, M'Lud

I would say Rachel Riley is a work of art........

Pis artists maybe when the drugs let me

Quote from: Agrippa on May 13, 2016, 02:37:40 PM
The answer is no, modelling is more akin to handicrafts. Modelling ( especially rail) is representing
a real object in miniature as  precisely as possible , so there is no room for personal interpretation.

As most layouts are works of fiction they must be a personal interpretation. Even a model of a real location is adjusted with to fit the canvass (baseboard) and give the effect the creator is looking for.
And many exhibition layouts have an extremely wide interpretation of what stock might have been used together!