When do Models become Art?

If you've followed my blog or my YouTube channel for any length of time, you'd know that I don't just show pics of my latest work and prattle about tools. There's more to modelling than that. Today I want to discuss the topic of "When do Models become Art?" because I recently visited a collectables store which had lots of gorgeous aircraft models for sale, and they were most definitely not just mere models - they had somehow become Art.

I know discussing Art is a tricky business. Yes, yes, it's all in the eye of the beholder, Art is whatever the artist says it is, etc etc ad infinitem. There is a lot of wank about Art out there, and I am certainly:

1. no expert, and;
2. unwilling to go down that rabbit hole.

But I do know that some models somehow transcend being simply models and become something else. Collectables, objets d'art, home decor, call them what you will, there are some times when models are coveted by non-modelling people. How does this happen?

This came about because I visited a collectables store last weekend, Smith Street Bazaar in Collingwood here in Melbourne, and I noticed their range of stunning aircraft art models. This got me thinking...

I have produced a video discussing this, showing what I think are legitimate "Art Models" (yes, I just made up that term and now I'm running with it) and offering some opinions on how this occurs and why, but I'd love to have a discussion and hear your opinion on the matter. Why so many aircraft, while it seems tanks don't get to become "Art Models"? Do they have to be made of precious metals? Why is no artist attributed? So many questions.

Video is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
When do Models become Art?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Cheers,

Dave