Human Traces: Ephemeral Art

Book excerpt: From archaic ochre marks on stones and Paleolithic cave murals of animals and hunters to modern art museums, humans have created many styles and forms of visual art. Some were created to enjoy, and others to enhance social occasions, after which they were discarded or destroyed. Ephemeral art or durable, it never mattered if it was aesthetic. This is the first comprehensive study of ephemeral visual art - an heir of the human evolutionary background that made it possible for us to create and appreciate art. Ephemeral artworks still permeate life, and this study honors their heritage.