Hyperrealism (also known as photorealism or superrealism) is a style of Art (mainly painting and sculpture) that is highly dependant on photographs. It was developed as an independent style in both USA and Europe in the 1970s, and it implies a highly detailed depiction of ordinary life or a picture, in order to achieve a result that is as close as the picture or the real object as possible, to the point that it is often difficult for the viewer to discriminate both.

Hyperrealistic portrait by Mike Dargas

While there is no doubt hyperrealism involves the mastering of different Art skills, some people have pointed out at it as just being a skill rather than Art, because the Art definition seems to be for many a narrow concept that is either too distant from reality (such is the case of surrealism, for example) or close from it, but without losing the “touch” of an artificial result (such is the case of realism). Thus, hyperrealism, rather than being seen as another Art style, it is regarded as something unnecesary… because we already have photo cameras, right?

Hyperrealistic portrait by Philipp Weber

Well: the objective of this op-ed article is to stand up for hyperrealism as a form of Art, because it should not be forgotten that the definition of Art is wide, and because there is a lot of passion and technique behind a hyperrealistic work. Such merit should be recognized, rather than despised or downgraded. I was, in fact, both puzzled and disappointed when I found there was a degree of prejudice in hyperrealism, which is a style I always regarded with admiration. In fact, it reached a point in which I was literally impressed to find so many bad critics about this movement, and fed up with it, because it mostly came from other artists that should be busy enough creating their own Art rather than criticising other’s. I used to believe that Art is something so diverse that there is little room for disdain. And yet, I was wrong (as one tends to realize as it immerses more and more into any field in life). I cannot, however, be convinced of finding something wrong in hyperrealism nor I doubt for a second of the merit and the Art skills of the painters and sculptors behind this style. I do understand that its critics may see hyperrealism as a copycat of life, but let’s not forget that, after all, Art is about observing life, and playing with shadows and lights and achieving accurate effects is all part of Art itself. Whether this piece of Art goes to the detail (to the point of losing the artist’s impronta due to the extreme resemblance), there is no reason to conclude that hyperrealism is not Art.

Art is in the eye of the artist. And whether the final result is way too abstract or way too detailed, it is still Art.