Why are we as art admirers, gallery-goers, art collectors and artists drawn to abstract art? Sometimes there may only be a few lines on a canvas or something like Jackson Pollock's splattered paint across a surface but there's something that emotionally brings us into it in the end. And if this is you or even if it isn't you (if you're reading this and wondering why others love abstract art but it bothers you) then this blog is for you!
What is abstract art? Essentially it's art that's created to not represent reality but rather uses texture, movement, color or other means to display its cause.
Natalie Soo, writer for Artling states that "Abstract art has existed even as early as the Tang dynasty (618 - 907). However, the rise of abstract art movements only really came in the late 19th century when artists began to deviate from classical and traditional modes of painting."
Some abstract artists from the early 19th century include Wassily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian and Kazimir Malevich but I would even think of some ancient cave drawings as abstract with their unique markings and shapes. Maybe that is why I've been motivated to paint some prehistoric-inspired art lately.
When we realize the complexity of human nature and emotions, sometimes abstract art is the best way to convey what we are trying to say in a piece. The painting may go from something we can easily identify to something that is beyond our logical way of thinking, drawing us in by our imagination and emotions rather than our brains. It's ok if we don't understand the piece but rather to try to think of how it makes feel; what does it make us think of? What does it remind us of? It's subjective yet at the same time we can sometimes feel was the artist was feeling when they painted it.
Artist Khaoula Chatt says that "Abstract art is a form of artistic expression that emphasizes shapes, colors, and lines rather than realistic representations of the world. It is a visual language that communicates ideas, emotions, and experiences through the use of non-representational forms."
I'll end with this beautiful statement on Artdex.com that states: "It connects with the deepest parts of our inner being, pulls us out of our everyday routines, and makes us ponder the intangible and the indescribable."
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