Abstract art : how much abstract?

Unique ability of the human brains to observe, appreciate or interpret the hidden symbolic meanings in abstract art is an extraordinary capability of many people.

The ambiguity and lack of objective representation inherent in abstract art has made it tricky for many to understand. The role of the viewer in abstract art takes on a new importance. As artist, Bridget Riley said, "My work is completed by the viewer".

Rather than focusing on the truthful depiction or realistic imitation of an object, abstract art looks at other non-objective artistic elements of shape, form, color, and line. The colors, shapes, and marks of abstract art provide an innovative visual language which allows artists to communicate emotions, ideas, and experiences. Texture, depth and, particularly, color become vital tools in conveying the artist's intention.

Pulling away from literal and representational art, abstract art is an escape from reality and is vastly open to interpretation. Instead of portraying easily recognizable scenes, abstract art challenges the viewer to respond to the piece in a more emotional and personal fashion, with different viewers interpreting the same piece differently based on their own experiences and beliefs.

Abstract art’s main purpose is to spark the imagination and invoke a personal emotional experience. The best abstract art can create a different experience depending on one’s personality or mood.

Abstract art is about the balance or unbalance of form, line, composition, and color to achieve harmony, or disarray. Some pieces may be focused on the method in which the piece is made and which materials are involved. Others focus on the movement of the paint across the canvas or panel.

Abstract techniques have been used by artists to explore ideas beyond the canvas and our physical reality. Abstraction is often seen to carry a moral dimension – a notion that was particularly prevalent in the late 19th and 20th centuries, where ideas of spiritualism, purity, and order informed many artists and their work. Pulling away from literal and representational art, abstract art is an escape from reality and is vastly open to interpretation.

Since the early 1900s, abstraction has formed an integral pillar in modern and contemporary art. Today, abstract art continues to be explored in multifarious ways, with many artists expanding and developing this ever-evolving genre.

Abstract art, design, and architecture can be found everywhere – it is all around us, and because of the unlimited ways it can be explored, it is understandable why this popular genre has formed a major part of a lot of artistic practices today.

The employment of abstract techniques has enabled artists to explore and represent their personal thoughts and feelings without the need for direct representation. Abstraction paved the way for artistic freedom, where anything from spirituality, materiality, to psychological and mental states, could be explored through the imaginative application of color, line, and form.

The popularity and attraction of abstract art is largely due to the fact that it is an incredibly versatile genre that continues to evolve till this day. With the rise of technology, social media, digital applications, and tools, we are already seeing abstract art developing and taking new shape.

Recent research on visual art has focused on its psychological and physiological effects, mostly in clinical populations. It has shown that visual art interventions have stabilizing effects on the individual by reducing distress, increasing self-reflection and self-awareness, altering behaviour and thinking patterns, and also by normalizing heart rate, blood pressure, or even cortisol levels. The extent to which visual art may also affect the functional neuroanatomy of the healthy human brain remains an open question.