Marcel Duchamp, a renowned artist once stated that: “The creative act is not performed by the artist alone; the spectator brings the work in contact with the external world by deciphering and interpreting its inner qualifications and thus adds his contribution to the creative act” (Duchamp). This statement embodies the ideals of what art is and what art means to those who view it. With this idea from Duchamp in mind viewers have the ability to place their own ideals and feelings into the art that they view. This ideal could be interpreted as a blessing or a curse depending upon the artist.
There are many artists who create work and fully enjoy how others see and experience their work to the point where they might not even name their piece. While other artists have a strict idea in mind that they always explain the meaning and emotion behind each of their artworks; which takes the interpretation away from the viewer. As an artist, I personally enjoy viewing and interpreting art on my own. I also enjoy when others interpret my art in their own way. However, I know plenty of non-artists viewers who are often confused by artwork and want an explanation of what the artist intended.
People are complex, one person’s views are often not the same as someone else’s, this is the main connection between the artist and viewer, they are simply both people and both have the ability to feel and think in multitudes of ways. As an artist, you must keep that in mind if you intend to create pieces for display, as it is important to be open to these differences. Personally, I believe that art interpretation depends upon the artist, if they wish to explain their ideas and emotions or not. However, even though that option is up to the artist, the ability of the viewer to place their own ideas or emotions onto a piece is also completely valid and depends upon the viewer and their experience. A viewer can see a piece of work that could have an entirely different meaning than how the viewer sees but even so the piece still fulfills its purpose. Art is meant to be a vessel of expression for all those who view or create.
As people we often have the ability to connect with those around us. Most of us want to understand one another and can find similarities between each other to bring about a connection. For those artists who enjoy explaining their work often explain their background as well, which helps viewers connect with them on a more personal level. Since we strive for those connections, if a viewer knows the life that the artist led, it is easier for the viewer to place themselves in the artists ideals and emotions. For example: when I first saw “Cell XXV” by Louis Bourgeois I felt a sense of discomfort, and eeriness that sat in the depths of my stomach.
When I learned of her past, especially how her father treated their mother by allowing his mistress to live at their family home was horrible to imagine. It changed the way I viewed this work, I still felt some of my original emotions but I also noticed the anger, and the hate that is present in the work. Even though I enjoyed how I originally felt viewing this piece, I did not mind that my views changed when I learned and connected with Bourgeois. I did not feel as though I lost connection or gained connection with the work. I could never fully feel or understand her pain or anger that she felt creating this work, but I can empathize with her and her emotions while also still feeling my own.
Work Cited
Bourgeois, Louise. Cell XXV (The view of the world of the jealous wife). 2001. https://www.xavierhufkens.com/artists/louise-bourgeois
Duchamp, Marcel, from “The Creative Act,” lecture, April 1957, quoted in Lebel, Robert. Marcel Duchamp. Grove Press. 1959. p.78