Connect to the Viewer's Senses

One who gets recognized is the person:
who shows off his ideas first (even if it is shoes lined up and you think anyone can do that!)
who makes you hesitate and stick around for more
who makes you question
who makes you stop and think and start relating

Same goes for titles of paintings. Some artists say their paintings should speak for themselves and should not be titled. Do you find “untitled” paintings as “grabbing” as titled paintings? I believe that a painting with a boring title or obvious title will not get as much “attention” as one with a title that connects with the viewer’s emotions and senses or makes him/her question. For example: take the “Voice of Fire” – acrylic by Barnett Newman 1967 in the collection of the National Gallery of Canada - (with no discussion as to media, advertising etc) if this painting was called Red Stripe – I can see myself passing over it quicker and thinking it initially boring than if it was called Voice of Fire. Why, because I hesitate at reading the title. I start to think: “why would the artist call this painting Voice of Fire?” Then I start to ask myself why would I call this painting Voice of Fire? Then I think “what does this mean?” Already I’ve spent more time in front of this painting.

Maybe grabbing your audience at the title can be the first step at making them stay longer at your painting. I think the longer they stay the longer they look, the more they think and hopefully find something they can relate to (emotions, senses). The more people relate to a painting (even knowing the history of how it was made, or feeling like they “know” the artists from meeting him/her, or having been to the same place in the painting etc.) the more they connect. The more they connect, the more likely they will purchase. Do you think?

The Shoes Haunt Me

I remember one time, years ago, I viewed “modern” art at the Toronto Art Gallery. {where as I’d much prefer to look at the masters’ paintings for hours}
This exhibit was literally a pair of shoes and work boots of different sizes lined up in a straight line together. I think it was tallest to smallest if I remember correctly. I don’t remember the artist’s name.

I laughed at it. I critised it. “That’s not ART”, I commented. “This is stupid. Why would anyone do that and get recognized for it.”

Well years later – I’ve thought about that piece of art a few times each passing year.
I’ve thought about how I can relate to that piece of art,
how I’ve also had shoes and boots lined up in my own house much the same way,
how I can relate to the senses that this piece of art arouses in me:
feeling of tightness when I wear shoes, hardness of the boots protective layer, soft leather on the outside of the shoes, the sweaty dampness inside them and on my socks after a day’s wear, the odour I smell after the closed off closet is opened up,
and about how I could ‘CONNECT’ with this art exhibit!

I’ve since realized that this piece of art was well done. I could relate to it. I didn’t forget it. It made me hesitate to stop and look more at it the first time I saw it (even though I thought at the time that I didn’t like it). It made me THINK. ART DID IT’S JOB.

What is Art?

What is art to you?

A piece of art makes you think, lets you connect and relate (even it is not in an understanding way but in a constantly-thinking-about-it way).