Art is not only about creative imagination but also about the tools and materials used. Artists shape, bake, and mould materials into their creations, using tools from brushes and chisels to stage sets and musical instruments. More recently, technology has become an important tool in creating art.

Fun Fact: Did you know that famous painter, Van Gogh, was known for his heavy, emotional brushwork? His tools (paintbrushes and paints) were as important as his vision in creating his iconic artworks!

Art requires the artist to be physically involved in its creation. This is arguably more evident in art than in any other area of knowledge. Artists not only need to know how to use their tools but also how to manipulate their chosen medium effectively.

For example, when you watch a musician play an instrument, you'll notice that it's not just about knowing which notes to play. It's about how they hold the instrument, how they move, and how they engage with the music. The act of playing becomes an art in itself.

The arts have a unique knowledge due to their embodied and material nature. It raises the question: What kind of knowledge might be unique to the arts?

On the flip side, are there exceptions? Are there art forms where tools play a lesser role? And how does the knowledge produced in arts differ from other areas of knowledge?