How to Connect Personally to Abstract Art

How to Connect Personally to Abstract Art

Abstract art will always confound viewers because it never utilizes any type of traditional forms or figures in place of using colors, shapes, and lines to evoke emotions. Abstract art is quite dissimilar to realistic art because a realistic piece of art will always reveal what the object or scene is. Abstract art offers an avenue for personal interpretation to open itself up. To get closer, to better understand and appreciate abstract art, it helps to approach it without fixed ideas and with a willingness to engage; one needs curiosity about what it provokes within one. This is how you do that:

1. Set aside preconceptions.
Abstract art will be one of the hardest things to appreciate if one has the notion that it should be "meaningful." Stop the compulsion to understand right away. Abstract art, after all, does not have to be intellectually understood; it stirs emotions. Gazing at abstract art without the weight of intellectual understanding and just allowing yourself to become emotional or touched really does make a lot of difference.

2. Stay with the Artwork
Time is required to bond with any art work. Sit or stand in front of the art work and expose yourself to its presence without coercing your thoughts. Let your eyes move over the colors, patterns, and shapes. Sense how you feel about the composition does it soothe you, energize you, confound you, or captivate you? The more you look at the piece, the more layers of meaning or emotion may open up.

3. Reflect on the Artist's Intent
While interpretation is subjective, understanding the context surrounding the artist creating this specific piece can help further a deeper sense of connection. Study about the background of the artist, their style, and what they were trying to communicate through their work. A sense of whether they were writing to expose social issues, were experimenting with new techniques, or just setting free emotional feelings can build more depth of connection.

4. Trust Your Instinct
Abstract art can be a mirror to your emotions, memories, or current state of mind. Trust your instinctive reaction to the piece. There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to abstract art-if something stirs within you by a certain color or shape, that's valid. It depends on your personal history and feelings.

5. Engage in dialogue
Discuss abstract art with others and discover new ways of viewing it. Share your interpretations with theirs, and hear their take. The beauty of abstract art lies in the different answers given to each viewer. You will see a greater appreciation for it and be able to see things you hadn't considered by having this initial conversation about it.

6. Reflection of Emotional Journey
Reflecting on your experience with an abstract piece After standing before an abstract piece for some time, take a step back and reflect about your experience. How did it make you feel? Did the colors or shapes remind you of something in your life? What insights or thoughts came to you? This is where your connection to the piece is made solid.

Of course, there is also a pretty personal way to find an attachment to abstract art. That means: let yourself be intuitive and emotional rather than getting definite answers. Spend time with the artwork, think about the intent of the artist, and trust your feelings; you can look to discover new layers of meaning and to establish a deep, personal bond with abstract art.