astralmelodic [2015-04-28 19:50:34 +0000 UTC]

1. Yes, but also because it is not a copy of something else but an idea in its most original form.
2. You can do both if the art is really good you can feel exactly what the artist felt and therefore understand the original intent.
3. If it's an artwork, it can make you feel something; if it can make you feel, then it has a meaning so, if it's an artwork it has a meaning.

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miapicassa [2015-03-21 10:34:40 +0000 UTC]

abstract means..unclear...in art, anything unclear , is viewed with more perspectives than would a distinctly clear image to the same # of viewers.
  it is good practice for the mind . It allows freedom to see more perspectives, which ultimately is the path to reality.

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DavidMunroeArt [2014-11-30 13:06:34 +0000 UTC]

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omzig89 [2014-11-28 00:22:11 +0000 UTC]

1. If you like abstract art, is it because it lets you feel free of the need to understand the artist’s “original intent” in meaning, and therefore free to let the art make you feel any way it makes you feel?
I have a response to stuff like anyone does to anything. Sometimes, that response is aesthetic in motive as opposed to utilitarian, spiritual etc. When I see an image, sometimes this "beauty-sensor" in my mind lights up in acceptance whether the image was intended to be an "artful" presentation or just a natural occurrence independent of sentient effort.

2. If you don’t really like abstract art, is it because since the artist is not trying to discernably represent something, you have no way of judging how well he or she is succeeding in the representation?  Is understanding the artist’s “original intent” more important to you than how the art makes you personally feel?
I don't automatically dislike art labeled "abstract". I could see how a well-composed image of a subject that does not map to a real-life object cannot be judged by any objective standards of comparison. Sometimes, the title of the work or accompanying notes like a quote/music complete the presentation - the entirety of the artwork is not in the image but the motive of the piece is clear. How art is received as a feeling is subjective to each individual taste - but any response at all is better than no reaction. Intent, if it is present and detected, is a bonus; it is not necessary for appreciating anything put together beautifully.

3. Is it possible for an artwork to “not mean anything?” Is the creation of such “meaningless” art of no value, or is it a great achievement in empowering the viewer of the artwork, making the viewer’s perception of the art all powerful.
If an "artist" meaning to make "art" created the piece (image, solid, even prose), they likely had a concept in mind that they tried to realize, or in other cases, they have a technique that can beautify pretty much anything they express on a whim. "Taste" is a "common sense" for aesthetics - beautiful things don't necessarily have to have a purpose. Utility and art are not mutually exclusive but the "use" of "art" is not always beautification or self-expression; beauty actually does not need a meaning to be recognized. Also, meaning is not necessarily value or vice versa.
Let's take the example of food (which has elements of visual presentation, but) considering only the experience of flavor in analogy to the visual experience that is a product of art. Every single meal a person eats in a lifetime is not necessarily a culinary delight - amazing flavor, (colors,) texture, aroma, and balance of all of the above are not a necessity as long as ingredients are cooked enough and palatable. There is nothing "meaningless" about boxed cereal for breakfast as opposed to a gourmet preparation of rare ingredients (not counting plating that's inviting, tells you the story of the making of the dish, or just looks so good that you don't even want to dig in) when you just want to fill your belly right after you wake up. However, some people really prefer their cereal with Irish-themed, colored marshmallows in them to make an otherwise bland bowl pop (crackle and snap) with excitement.
How someone experienced in "culinary arts" can take ingredients and transform them into safe, tasty (and vibrant) food is definitely appreciable but it doesn't (shouldn't) devalue "common" food. On the other hand, even some of the most meticulously prepared dishes are sometimes not appetizing to those with different cuisine preferences - for example, some people don't like dead creatures (or their parts) on their plate.
Finally, all art means something as a human impression on the universe having filtered some stimulus funneled from the same universe; see (satisfy a curiosity), think (understand), draw (teach/convey). That an abstract piece is worth anything else as an object is calculated from a limited perspective (which changes over time) regardless of how some may accept it by their taste while others may reject the same.

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FabioKeiner [2014-11-25 19:30:53 +0000 UTC]

of course, the first art was abstract: symbol of an idea.
the last art will be abstract. indeed, it is.
...
btw, where are my artworks in your fine collection? not abstract enough? not sufficiently primitive? too minimalist?
)

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thor113 [2014-11-25 07:47:16 +0000 UTC]

If we're talking history abstact? You have to start somewhere.When we look long enough at an object or pattern on something in nature we start using our creative parts of our minds to reveal what we want to see.

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AbhishekJoshi [2014-11-25 06:25:25 +0000 UTC]

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80sdisco [2014-11-24 21:26:43 +0000 UTC]

There's a difference between Abstract Art of the modern era and Abstract Decoration of the prehistoric era. Abstract Art is the reaction to photography that says artist are freed from portraying the real world and can instead explore the worlds of feeling and emotion that were till then the preserve of musicians.

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zeruch [2014-11-24 09:11:07 +0000 UTC]

After years of representational work, abstracts were the only frontier that have proven challenging and cathartic for me.  That's the readers digest short version at least.  The more contextual answer would be obnoxiously long winded.

Also, profound thanks for featuring some of my works in this. It's never not a surprise when one gets noticed by the powers that be. 

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Netbug009 [2014-11-23 20:52:37 +0000 UTC]

I LOVE abstract art. It shows just how far color and shapes alone can go even without a narrative.

I DO believe it has a meaning though. We may not see the meaning when we view it or we may find a new meaning, but art is created with some purpose.

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Urus-28 [2014-11-22 10:35:35 +0000 UTC]

Abstract !!!

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intelligentperspecti [2014-11-21 22:38:55 +0000 UTC]

I grew up enjoying Abstract art, being raised by my grandmother she would call this rubbish. Over time I started to think of art as being more than expression but a way of transferring realism and perspective into one, a means of putting your view into the world. Then going back to what my grandmother considers art I think I appreciate her view more.

When art began as a way to basically transcribe your real visions into something like rock or stone as a way to keep those visions of reality lasting longer then the mortal life of man. Then technology changed the way art was interpreted meaning once it was easy to keep real life visions embedded like pictures...people started going away from realism to abstract. Seemingly humans tend to try to differ themselves from the constant current existence by placing themselves at the other end of the spectrum.

When the world was abstract and unknown ----- Humans wanted to define art as a way to keep the visions of reality

When the world became easy to keep visions of reality ------ Humans wanted to define art as a way to keep the visions of abstract and venture into the unknown


Like Carl Sagan said "Our brains do much more than just recollect, it inter-compares, it synthesizes, analyzes and generates abstractions." 

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tholang [2014-11-21 21:17:30 +0000 UTC]

Great collection and article!

... and thank you!

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relhom [2014-11-21 17:47:44 +0000 UTC]

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guidebush [2014-11-21 13:53:30 +0000 UTC]

abstract is the same as any other art form.
it should make you look at it .

whether you enjoy it or think its any good is irrelevant.

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akki64 [2014-11-21 13:35:56 +0000 UTC]

Many thanks for including my work ! Great collection.
 Creating abstract art it's nice to feel a great sense of freedom.

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davincipoppalag [2014-11-21 09:10:19 +0000 UTC]

Great article.. thanks for including one of mine

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makepictures [2014-11-21 08:41:39 +0000 UTC]

The decorative arts particularly in the Muslim world but also in Asia depended on geometric abstractions as a way to focus sometimes meditative attention.  They knew that representational work would overly direct the thoughts of the viewer while abstractions would be more contemplative.  Divorced from religious experience, abstract art seems random.  But any deeper look can trigger emotions no representational work can reach because when they arrive they come from within.  In this sense, done well, abstract art is a superior form.

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LivingWild [2014-11-21 06:42:02 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much for featuring my Abstract Flames.  

Your article is super great ... entertaining, educational and provocative.  I absolutely loved going through it, and got your train of thought.  Actually, it felt like I was riding First Class ...  Well Done on a Superb Job.  

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upgradeninja [2014-11-21 05:57:11 +0000 UTC]

all these works are so nice! I love abstract art and i have no idea why. I don't really take any forms of art for meaning, just as aesthetically pleasing improvements to life.

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deshrubber [2014-11-21 05:48:20 +0000 UTC]

1. I like it because it I can look at a work and feel a certain way about it. Then I see the title, or artist intent, and see it in a whole new light. Sometimes for the better, sometimes the worst. It's always nice to feel a little brain activity while looking at art.

2. N/A

3. What is meaningless to one may have meaning to someone else. I see things that are meaningless to me all the time, yet some people love them. I would bet that some artist put out meaningless work, and I would double or nothing the money I won from that bet on it meaning something to somebody.

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