“I Just Don’t Understand Abstract Art!”
It seems as though most of us were raised with preconceived ideas as to what art should be. We “learn” that you’re supposed to recognize something in a painting, so we just stand there looking for what we’re supposed to see in the painting, never taking the chance to simply enjoy it.
What a shame!
It’s probably partly related to the right and left-brain phenomenon. We develop our analytical skills to such a degree (for modern-day survival) that our creative and artistic awareness is squelched. Abstract art just doesn’t “compute”. It doesn’t make sense. It’s not logical to our dominant left side brain. So we just dismiss abstract art as something childish, off the wall. It’s easier than trying to understand it, much less appreciate it.
But it’s really easy to understand and appreciate modern abstract art. Appreciating abstract art doesn’t require a class. You don’t need to know the rules of composition or complex color theory. Some of that might admittedly heighten your experience, but all that is needed to appreciate abstract art is an open mind, no thought or analysis or searching for recognizable forms.
Just look and enjoy.
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March 25th, 2008 at 10:10 am
I try really hard to understand the way you suggested but sometimes I get the feeling the artist has put a big dot on a blank canvas and is “wink-wink” selling it to people for huge amounts of dollars.