World Art Day is commemorated every April 15, a date that also happens to be a historically-illustrious artist’s birthday.
From sculptures, paintings, music, and poetry, other forms of literature, and even performance arts, World Art Day celebrates the universal language of creativity. The occasion is celebrated every April 15 and serves as a global platform to appreciate art’s profound impact on society.
The International Association of Art (IAA/AIAP) established World Art Day in Guadalajara, New Mexico in 2011. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said since 2012, numerous countries all over the world had organized artistic and cultural events promoting artists’ works.
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World Art Day on Leonardo da Vinci’s birthday
A report from News 18 as well as UNESCO said the IAA chose April 15 for World Art Day as it was Leonardo da Vinci’s birthday.
Da Vinci was a renowned painter, engineer, architect, and inventor during the Renaissance period according to History. He only had minimal formal education. However, his talent and curiosity led him to become Andrea del Verrocchio’s apprentice, an Italian sculptor and painter.
Da Vinci contributed a significant amount of groundbreaking art works such as the “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper.” His interests also branched out to nature, mechanics, anatomy, physics, and architecture, among others.
Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud likened him to “a man who awoke too early in the darkness, while the others were all still asleep,” due to his relentless pursuit of knowledge.
Top three most expensive paintings
2023 saw through a myriad of milestones in the world of art, may it be in the form of visual or performing arts.
Paul Cézanne’s “The Card Players” is the third most expensive art ever sold at $250 million in 2011. Qatar’s royal family purchased the artwork according to Vanity Fair.
Willem de Kooning’s “Interchange” came in second as it sold for $300 million. Hedge fund billionaire Kenneth C. Griffin bought the art from the David Geffen Foundation in 2015.
The most expensive to date is the “Salvator Mundi,” a depiction of Jesus, an art piece that is attributed to da Vinci. It sold for $450 million at an auction in Christie’s in 2017. According to them, the date the painting was purchased was a day Christie’s Global President Jussi Pylkkänen will never forget. It was once dismissed as a replica due to being hidden under layers of overpaint. However, it was reattributed (in a part or a whole) to da Vinci and is “arguably the greatest artistic rediscovery of the 21st century.”
Three most valued sculptures
Swiss sculptor and painter Alberto Giacometti is one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century as per Tate Modern. His artistic styles highlight Cubism and Surrealism influences. Three of his works became one of the most valuable sculptures in the world.
Sotheby’s enlisted Giacometti’s “Chariot” on its website in 2014 as part of its Impressionist and Modern Art sale. The 1950s sculpture, which he saw in a dream, sold for $100,965,000.
The Guardian reported his “L’Homme Qui Marche I” (The Man Who Walks) sculpture sold for more than £65 million (or $104.3 million) in 2010. Sotheby’s put Giacometti’s slender figure under the auction hammer back then. The Swiss sculptor’s 1961 creation appeared on Switzerland’s 100 franc bill.
Director of the Alberto and Anette Giacometti Foundation Catherine Grenier explains that “L’Homme Qui Marche I” is a masterpiece that made a mark in the history of art.
Giacometti’s most highly regarded sculpture is “L’Homme au Doigt” (Pointing Man) and realized $141.3 million at Christie’s. His masterpiece, which sold in 2015, is “unquestionably Giacometti’s greatest sculpture,” said Pylkkänen. He finished the piece in a single night in 1947.
Most notable Broadway productions
Broadway World cited The Broadway League, declaring The Phantom Of The Opera as the third highest-grossing production. It earned a total of $1,364,632,622, 20,158,065 attendances, and more than 13,000 performances. The theatrical show chronicled the love triangle between soprano Christine Daaé, the Phantom, and Christine’s childhood friend, Raoul.
Wicked comes in next with a gross of $1,604,162,661, with more than 14 million in attendance and 7,884 shows. The production explores the friendship of the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, and The Good Witch of the South, Glinda. It discussed thought-provoking themes revolving around acceptance and the nature of good and evil.
The Lion King is the highest-grossing Broadway show. It accumulated a total of $1,943,111,223 earnings, 17,422,116 attendances, and more than 10,000 shows. The theatrical masterpiece tells the story of a young lion named Simba who goes onto a journey of redemption. It brought the Disney animated film to life on stage.
High-grossing movies of all time
These top-selling movies captivated global audiences not just through their compelling stories but also its overall production and direction. Several media outlets revealed the top three high-grossing movies of all time are: Avatar, Avengers: Endgame, and Avatar: The Way Of The Water.
Avatar: The Way Of Water (2022) garnered $2.32 billion worldwide, according to IGN. James Cameron directed the film, which starred Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, and Kate Winslet, among others. IMDb mentioned the movie won an Oscar for Best Achievement in Visual Effects in 2023. The Avatar movie franchise is about the adventures of Jake Sully, who was dispatched to the world of Pandora on a unique mission. He fell in love with a Na’vi woman named Neytiri and strived to fight for her embattled homeland.
Reports from IMDb and Deadline revealed Avengers: Endgame had the second highest gross of all time. IGN added that the movie was also one of the most expensive films ever made with a budget amounting between $356 million to $400 million. It earned a total of $2.79 billion globally. Anthony and Joe Russo directed the film, which came out in 2019. Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Benedict Cumberbatch, Scarlett Johansson, and Paul Rudd are among its stellar cast.
Avatar clinched the highest revenue of all time, with $2.92 billion total worldwide profits according to Box Office Mojo. IMDb mentioned the film won three Oscars in 2010: Best Achievement in Cinematography, Visual Effects, and Art Direction.
The world’s most expensive books
Numerous sources such as Forbes credited da Vinci’s Codex Leicester as the most expensive book ever sold. Their report said Microsoft’s Bill Gates spent $30.8 million for the manuscript in 1994, which would amount to $64.68 today.
The Book of Mormon clinched the record from da Vinci’s manuscript in terms of actual amount paid for a book. Smithsonian Magazine reported the Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints paid $35 million, surpassing the amount Gates paid for the Codex Leicester.
The Codex Sassoon, “The Earliest Most Complete Hebrew Bible,” surpassed the two as it sold in an auction for $38.1 million. It is a 1,100-year old bible, one of the world’s oldest surviving biblical manuscripts, according to The Guardian. The former United States Ambassador to Romania Alfred H. Moses purchased it and donated it to the ANU Museum in Tel Aviv.
The significance of World Art Day
Celebrating World Art Day is a powerful reminder of its impact to society, and even us as individuals. It commemorates diversity, fosters creativity, and serves as a way to appreciate cultures around the world.
Let us all continue to cherish and support the art industry. Art enriches our world, inspires change, and prompts us to embrace self-expression in the most prolific ways.
Banner photo from Wikimedia Commons.
