A recent article got me thinking about the ways people experience art and extract meaning from something visual. Often people refer to art as spiritual. As far back as we can gather data, art and spirituality or ceremony are fused. (Although today's religious mainstream can sometimes try to suck the art and mystery right out of devotion and prayer.)
When a piece of art is created, the artist might have intended meaning for an image or symbol, but the viewer will make his or her own connections. There will be unintended meanings construed. Contemporary artists are usually reconciled to this lack of control on the viewer's subconsciousness. What the viewer gets out of the viewing experience is up to them. Something spiritual happens - not cognitive, not manipulative, not logic alone.
There is an interaction between the piece and the viewer, thus the piece becomes autonomous. So this inanimate object/ image is engaging a person emotionally, intellectually, physically. One further aspect of good art is that it's more than a snapshot of a moment, in my opinion. It transcends a moment, exists outside of the constraints of time. That, to me, is also spiritual.
I guess this is Josh's art appreciation 101. Maybe I'll get writing on how to view MY OWN art for readers of this blog.
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