It’s interesting observing people reacting to realistic paintings with a satisfaction, a joy, a kind of relief. If, on the other hand, you confront them with art that they cannot grasp at first glance, they become embarrassed, even awkwardly embarrassed. Gerhard Richter once said ‘I don’t like art that I understand at first sight’. There we are already two.
When children paints, we get excited. Less because of the art work itself, but of the expression, because of the joy and enthusiasm that the little people put into their work. From an adult we expect maturity, perfection and technical ability. People who deal with art know how difficult it is for an adult to look at the world through the eyes of a child, naively, as it is. On the one hand we are looking for the familiar and on the other side people want to discover the new, unknown. A paradox.
The one artist satisfy the paying clientele with images they all believe they want to see. Only few dare to publicly reveal their bare souls. However, not every abstract art is a revelation at the same time. An untrained eye cannot recognize this.
If you want to experience the real value of a artwork, it’s necessary to let it work on you. To get involved. You should watch your own feelings. The reaction of the body. Sometimes we experience joy, sometimes fear, anger, insecurity, curiosity, longing. It is a whole range of emotions that a art work can trigger in us. Each of these feelings is very valuable because it magically speaks to our innermost, the subconscious.
The naive that we cannot grasp with our intellect can penetrate deep into our soul. It can heal or trigger healing processes. It can inspire and bring out the unconscious.
When looking at a work, do not use your eyes to call up the images that already exist in your brain. Take the chance to let the feelings stored in a work take effect on you.