2March 2007
1.3_Abstract Art
Until about the mid 1800’s, western art has aspired to the rational work of the observation and reproduction of our visible reality. The scientific and philosophical changes of the time directly effected western art, where the theoretical abstract became concrete enough in the minds of artists to visually represent their philosophical views of the changing world. Rather than discuss the history of art and the evolution of and realization of abstraction, I will tell you that Abstract Art is a logical conclusion for the moment.
Abstraction is a language of composition without the dependance of the visual world. The abstract work of art is an idea related to our visual world through the personal interpretation of experience and retrospection. Abstract art has allowed modern man to contemplate on our world views, our philosophies, and ourselves in an era where we not only have the opportunity to contemplate these things, we concentrate on it. Abstract art is a logical conclusion for the moment.
Each artist’s ideas are their own, and the concepts and results of their abstract works of art are only subject to the variables of their generation. Method and style are irrelevant, both being products of the period each artist lives in, and as such, are a representation of the intuitive state and personal interpretation of their generation. You cannot place boundaries on or judge the aesthetics of a generation, you can however judge their philosophy in a general observation of the collective behavior of a generation.
The further the artist progresses into abstraction, the more it will become apparent that he is actually ascending into representation; not that of a photographic nature, but that of an intuitive kind. With brief being at the nature of abstraction, we find that abstract art is only the sketch of a concept, and has yet to have grown into the maturity of pure compositional works. The intended concept of the artist must live in every portion of a work of art for abstract oil painting to grow out of its infancy, and into the maturity of the aesthetics of compositional oil painting.
Lastly, regardless of a work of art’s appearance, if honest, it is beautiful.