Understanding Abstract Art
The term abstract means a conceptual idea, thought, imagery, etc., which though removed from reality offers some clues into the human mind. It is often associated with representing grand ideas, offering a window to the vast spiritual world or depicting something which the artists sees however, is not able to present or communicate plainly.
Symbolism plays a significant role in making abstract art what it is. The term abstract points to something which exists in ideas or thoughts, though, not in reality. It feels like abstract art exists somewhere between imagination and reality. One way to look at it is the way abstraction of ideas takes places. Capturing the essence of a concept through the process of abstraction happens in this form of art. It is also seen as a means to tell a story through symbolism. It requires some context, however, to understand the underlying story or thought processes. And there are layers one needs to uncover and unfold to get into the depths of an idea. Since abstract is a non-representational form of art, the objects depicted aren’t necessarily recognizable. In fact, it is not the objective to represent real-world objects.
Shapes, color, texture and many other means of expression are made use of in this style of painting to evoke emotions or encode certain ideas or themes. It is fun and intriguing to decode messages and clues encrypted in an abstract artwork. From the perspective of the artist, this art form offers great freedom and flexibility for self-expression.