I DON'T GET ABSTRACT ART!

Abstract art is loved, and hated. It's a lot like 'Marmite'. At ABSTRAKTOLOGIE, we have a transparent love of abstract art (and Marmite). Why? Because it allows us to express who we are and who we want to be.

But that love doesn't mean everyone is going to love the art we create, or 'get it'. And that's okay.  Here's three ways to think about abstract art.

1. Your brain enjoys abstraction, even if you don't.

• A team of researchers from Columbia University found that looking at representational art (e.g. a portrait or a landscape), triggered the parts of the brain we use when looking at people or places.
• But, when we look at abstract art regions throughout our brain fire up. It's as if your brain is scanning across it's whole database trying to make sense of what it's looking at.
• Since there are no obvious answers, we process the artwork in a different way. That process helps us detach from reality and gives the mind a mental break. We may not 'get' the art, but we appreciate the change in thinking.

2. You decide how you feel.

• One of the best ways to engage with any kind of art, is take the personal approach. Look at the piece of art (preferably for a few minutes), scan the entire composition, reflect on the colours, textures and marks. Where's the focal point? What draws your attention?
• The beauty of abstract art is that only you know how it makes you feel. You choose how to respond. And there's no 'right or wrong'. The artist may have had an intention when they created the art, but only you will experience the emotion the artwork evokes.
• Sometimes you'll come across an artwork you love, and you won't know why. Remember, the wise words of Claude Monet. If you love it, you love it. You don't have to know WHY you love it.

3. You decide what it means.

• Similarly, you decide what the piece 'means'. Abstract art allows you to make your own associations and draw your own conclusions.
• Art is never about 'nothing'. Like any piece of literature, or piece of music, an art work has form, structure and composition. Whether you like a book, or an album or a painting, is a purely personal process.
• At ABSTRAKTOLOGIE, we strive to bring you art which provokes your curiosity, which shares lessons in well-being. At the end of the day, if you learn new ways of living your life well, we've achieved our purpose.

Whether or not you 'get' a piece of art, we hope you enjoy the exploration of our collection and discover nuggets of wisdom for your own life.

Shop the Collection and discover art to fall in love with.

Want to know more about the study from Columbia University? Read 'An objective evaluation of the beholder’s response to abstract and figurative art based on construal level theory' by Celia Durkin, Eileen Hartnett, Daphna Shohamy, Eric R. Kandel.