top of page
Painting, Perception, Words,
Meaning and Communication.
Words can be descriptive and convey emotion. Words are of the greatest importance in the visual arts, yet sometimes we struggle to find words to fully explain our reactions, feelings, emotional reactions or understanding. Yet without words (language), we would be alone. Words play a significant role even in the most difficult aesthetic confrontation like looking at a Rothko painting. There is always an overlap of perception between people that allows them to communicate their feelings and understanding, yet the exchange may also enrich their knowledge.
But there is still a major and significant area of experience that is beyond the scope of words. The phenomenal aspects, the contemplative and the experience of calmness, there are yours or mine. This is far from exhaustive; blueness, redness, pink etc. Pink on green or yellow on red.
Rothko holds us without words or reference, yet our hunt for words to explain or explore our experience, for the most part, enriches our experience. It allows us to share with others that small aspect of perception and experience that overlaps with others. Yet more, it allows us to explore our own experiences and perceptions. If we adopt a phenomenological perspective it can make us aware of our perceptions and experience by becoming aware of the perception of our perceptions and experience.
That is we objectify our perceptions by being aware of the process and experience of perception itself. We can stand back and objectify our experience of perception. This tells us what can be explored and communicated, but also the limits of words of language. That is the significant aspect of perception and experience that words cannot embody and hence cannot communicate ie. redness.
Yet we struggle to find a way of holding on to our perceptions and experience, to know if our experience is the same as others or close. Is our perception of redness in the same environment always the same? Is it the same for others? How do we hold on to an experience that we cannot codify? Or is each experience unique? And only for the moment?
Does this mean you cannot be affected by a work that does not have clear intentions or does it mean that the artist's views or lack of clarity can or does mean nothing to the public?
The public is left with the history of art, use of media, visual language, composition, line, form, tone and colour as well as style, to deconstruct the work. They may however be satisfied with their emotional reaction to work.
Words and language can only enrich our experience of a work of art. It allows us to continuously return to our experience and through reinforcement to gain further insight. Of equal importance, we share our experience and understanding. We all become aware of the primary importance of written/spoken language and its limitations.
Without clear intentions can there be any evaluation by the artist or public?
bottom of page