What is art? What can we truly consider a work of art? I know, it’s a rather lofty question for a blog post, especially one that features a photo of a chicken coop. So let me clarify right away: this question isn’t directed at my photograph. Honestly, when I head out with my camera slung around my neck, I don’t feel like I’m doing anything particularly artistic, nor do I believe the results of my photographic outings amount to works of art. Let’s be clear about that.
On the contrary, the question refers directly to the subject of the photo. I know, a chicken coop isn’t exactly the pinnacle of artistic expression. It’s a practical setup, a space we build to house domestic animals, in this case, chickens, with the aim of getting something in return: delicious eggs. It’s not something that typically arises from artistic ambition. And yet, I have to admit, sometimes the creativity and intricate craftsmanship involved in these humble domestic structures far exceeds the merely functional.
From the way the nets are arranged in the photo, to the tangle of ropes that hold them in place, the web of posts that support the structure and enclose the space, and the handcrafted wooden shed in the background, each of these elements gives the chicken coop a kind of aesthetic value, something visually striking that evokes a reaction. Maybe some people will just see a chicken coop and find my reflection ridiculous, and that’s fine, I won’t argue with them. But I see a form of personal expression, a way of organizing a rural domestic space that requires creativity and imagination. Sometimes artistic expression arises in the most unexpected places, even where you’d least expect it.
