I've been doing some reading, and it’s clear to me that I know very little about art. I am familiar with photography and dabble in writing poetry and journaling. My partner is a potter, and I see the effort she puts into her craft.
However, when I visit art galleries, I often feel confused. I don't always understand what the artist is trying to convey. I sometimes think I'm not educated enough to appreciate the art fully, and while there is some truth to that, I was missing a few key points: the purpose of art and its role.
It’s not an artist's job to ensure you understand their work completely. Once the work is finished, the interpretations, comments, and reviews are out of the artist's control. They can guide you, but it’s not their responsibility to hand-hold and show you what to see.
This realisation changed my perspective. There are two roles in every piece of art: the creator and the observer.
The creator draws from within, translating their soul, experiences, culture, and observations into their chosen medium. The resulting art can be profoundly pure and inspiring. This is beautifully highlighted in the song "East Side of Sorrow" by Zach Bryan with the lyric, "All of your pain is just another f*king sing along."
The observer’s role is to observe, listen, read, and see the works without distraction. The observer should be in the best possible mindset to allow the art to speak to them.
I'm currently reading "Art as Therapy" by Alain de Botton and John Armstrong. The biggest takeaway for me is that art reflects what is within us.
So, instead of asking, "What do you think the artist is trying to say here?" a better question for the observer is, "What is showing up for me when I look, listen, or read this?" If you're brave, you can add, "Why?"
Here’s an example from my own experience. This is an image I took, displayed at my first exhibit. I sold 3 out of 5 copies and asked the collectors why they bought it.
The first one said, "I know that spot and used to go there all the time with my family, so it brings up good memories for me."
The second said, "I love the framing and the timelessness of the black and white."
The third said, "I love the ocean, so this frame is fun and makes me smile when I see it."
As the artist, why did I take this? It was part of my first exhibit, and I just adored the frame. It was on film and happened in a flash; I had no intention other than I loved the shot. Now I look at it as a play on the importance of being young for as long as you can. The older men were jumping off the pontoon together like a group of teenagers, daring each other to do it.
So, the more important question is, "What shows up for me when I see this?" This question can lead to breakthroughs and reveal what you like, dislike, enjoy, or despise. It will show you more about yourself through the medium of art. Considering art’s importance in evoking emotions, this question may help you understand both art and yourself better.