The meaning of abstract art

Abstract art, regardless of its aspect, be it geometric or informal, has the power to stir people's imagination. Unlike the Renaissance heritage of art academies and Greco-Roman aesthetics, the concept of “beautiful” proposed by abstractionism brought with it a break with any type of standard.

Movements such as cubism, surrealism, dadaism, expressionism and futurism were the pioneers in seeking to break with old aesthetic values. From this, then, emerges what we call abstractionism. And this aspect, characterized, above all, by “non-representation”, sought to bring to light a new style of art, in which shapes, colors, lines and textures became objects of research for artists.

For a long time, this concept of art was strange to all those who valued the traditionalism that existed until then. As in poetry, the “lyrical self”, which expresses the poet's emotions, feelings and thoughts, in abstract art, the artist portrays, without dependence on the external world, his unconscious and his instinct, through organic shapes, compositions and vibrant colors .

But, in addition to all the technique and expressiveness brought by abstractionism, the most interesting part is the subjectivity that each work carries with it. As the artist has complete freedom to translate his feelings onto canvas – feelings that the artist himself often does not have control over or knowledge of at the time – the final result is always surprising.

But, after all, what is the meaning of abstract art?

A work of abstract art has the ability to touch both those who produce it and those who consume it. It is a conversation between the creative spirit of the artist and the one who appreciates it. And the best part: each viewer, when viewing the work, is impacted differently, according to their personal interpretation and previous experience. In other words, when we talk about abstractionism, it can be said that the final impact is always subjective, which makes this artistic model truly a dive into each person's unconscious.

Since its origins, in the mid-1940s, abstract expressionism has played a strong role in human deconstruction. During this period, artists such as Pollock, Rothko, Kooningm, experimented with the various limits of such aesthetics. And that is precisely the meaning of art, whatever it may be. Disintegrate reality, create new perspectives, angles and worldview. When this happens, it is because the work fulfilled its role.

Jackson Pollock. Suas obras foram uma referência para todos os artistas da arte abstrata. (foto: flickr)

Work by Mark Rothko. "Reality as Color".

This deep dive into the interior of the artist and the contemplator of the work is what gives abstract art its meaning. In the same way that the artist, when starting the work, does not know exactly what the final result will be, he also does not know what the viewer's interpretation will be. And then the charm of abstractionism and everything it represents. Abstractionism brings with it an immensity of feelings, sensations and meanings that impact each person in a different way.

This deep dive into the interior of the artist and the contemplator of the work is what gives abstract art its meaning. In the same way that the artist, when starting the work, does not know exactly what the final result will be, he also does not know what the viewer's interpretation will be. And then the charm of abstractionism and everything it represents. Abstractionism brings with it an immensity of feelings, sensations and meanings that impact each person in a different way.

Willem de Kooning - With his gestural painting, he transcended the limits between abstraction and figuration.