by D T Lohith

Created on: February 04, 2007   Last Updated: November 18, 2009

Understanding Abstract Art

Being an art enthusiast, I have been baffled by some of the art reviews that appear in newspapers and other periodicals. They seem to confuse me more than facilitating me to understand difficult art. Difficult art, in the sense, anything other than 'realistic art' - somethings like surrealistic art, formless art, dadaism, abstract art, kistch and so on. When I visit an art gallery or art show, and if I can't understand the art exhibited there, I seek the help of art reviews. My basic expectation being some help in understanding the meaning of the paintings, these reviews, most of the times, disappoint me. The reviews appear as a platform for the critiques to exhibit their superior knowledge, rather than helping a simple man like me. Some of the reviews, in fact, intimidate me and seem to tell me indirectly that I am unfit to understand them or the paintings in question.

Please don't get me wrong I am not trying to generalize or express my opinion categorically. Some reviews help me, where as many others confuse and disappoint me. I maintain that the basic duty or responsibility of an art review is to help average person like me understand art. Frankly, I don't think this happens.

Many artists and and experts opine that a work of art has to tease the imagination of the viewer. A painting becomes boringly straight and simple, if it is extremely realistic and easily understandable. There is nothing in realistic paintings to appreciate except the beauty of them, they say. That's why photo-realistic art has taken a back seat some times. A good number of art lovers love the works of art to be intriguing, teasing and leaving something to the imagination of the viewer.

But sometimes I feel that the artists take too long a leap in this direction by creating works of art, which are impossible to understand. What should an ordinary person like me do, in such situations, to understand their work ?

Perhaps, some knowledge regarding the birth of 'abstract art' (I don't know what to call this kind of art, as it has many names, i.e., formless art, non-figurative art, modern art, contemporary art the list is endless, I would rather call this art something 'other than realistic art') would help us in understanding the kind of art in question.

It is said that the artists of 19th century reached a level of perfection in realistic art, that sometimes their creation on canvas was more beautiful and realistic than the real object itself. Human nature being

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>