Frustration has turned more than a few viewers away from abstract art. Artists and critics of art, like politicians, have alienated their audiences by using the old shuck and jive trick whenever they are cornered. This sin has created very cynical viewers in order to protect mediocre critiques and mediocre art; it has also destroyed any trust between the audience and the artist. I’m here to remind you all: People! Artists and audiences! You need each other!
It is up to you, dear reader, to tell that cynicism to get behind you. Tell that devil to get off your back. The first step towards healing can be taken together.
First of all, I suggest you read this short article by a writer and philosopher named Susan Sontag regarding art and interpretation. It’s called Against Interpretation and it is well worth your time.
Now, I know some of you have trouble trusting yourself when viewing abstract art. I know what you’re thinking, or at least I can see a puzzled look on your face. You’re probably thinking, ‘Isn’t there supposed to be something more there? That’s just a square. I must be missing something.’ You’re not missing anything. Trust me. Bring yourself to accept what is there. Try not to look past the painting too quickly. Much of abstract art can be understood, at least partially, in a formal sense. That is, the artist isn’t giving you a product that has a meaning separate from the arrangement of the composition and the colour. The piece may be an experiment in genre; modern questions artists try to answer can be deceptively simple ones, like trying to create a painting that only involves painterly elements; devoid of sculptural, architectural, etc elements. Or the artist may be trying to create an affect, often either optical or emotional, by employing certain devices. Optical effects include pairing colours, generally complimentary* ones, together so that it appears that the colours are vibrating. Some artists, including a few of those branded as Abstract Expressionists, attempt to convey emotional affects, or be emotionally effecting, through the use of gesture. A brush mark, it is argued, can indicate the emotional state of the artist who made it, or can be a device to indicate such an emotion to the viewing audience. To generate your own opinions, you’ll need to look at a few paintings yourself.
Don’t worry about understanding everything all at once. I have two further suggestions for appreciating abstract art. The first is to go with your gut. Find a painting that you like and enjoy it by basking in its glow. Then try and figure out what attracts you to it. Maybe find out some of the context behind the art including the social climate in which it was made. But don’t trust everything you read about the meaning – hold true to yourself. The second suggestion is to try making a piece of abstract art yourself. Copying a masterwork can be very instructive. Make sure you choose a painting that you have a really good picture of, and one that you can actually visit once or twice before starting as well. You don’t need to use the same media or scale, as just the attempt to put the painting together yourself will give you a much deeper insight into the work.
If it all works out, feel free to email us the results. Get out there and live, dammit.
*Complimentary colours are colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel eg red and green, yellow and purple, blue and orange.
