There is a lot that goes into creating a piece of art work. As an artist you invest so much of yourself into an art piece, it can become intensely personal. You want your ideas to be interpreted by the viewer in an intended manner.
Many artist write up lengthy statements about art pieces so there is little question about how the art should be viewed and the meaning behind it.
However, sometimes an artistic statement gets in the way of the viewer. It can force the viewer to to become more subjective and stifles the viewers engagement with an art piece. Taking visual imagery out of context can help to stimulate the viewer to look for personal understanding that can help them connect to an art piece at a more individual level.
Humans want to understand. We have a need to connect the dots and form a full picture. It is a primal process that cannot be denied. If all information is presented upfront, there is little need for the mind to question what is going on. If there is no challenge to the mind, the viewer will not become engaged, and will become uninterested or even bored.
When the collective details are brought into focus and the intended meaning is left in the background, suddenly new themes emerge. The viewer is free to actively think about what they see, instead of being told what to see. This opens a creative dialogue between the viewer and a piece of art. This dialogue will in turn create interest.
Art is in the eye of the beholder. Sometimes a viewer may find an art piece objectionable. Forming an independent conclusion is a freedom that the viewer should have. We all see the world and interpret it in unique ways,
why should art be any different?
why should art be any different?
Next time you are being told how to look at art, try not to listen. Step back, look at the visual information in your own way, and form your own opinion. You might be surprised by what you find.