The eye of the beholder
During our visit to the recent Cape Town Art Fair, we were struck by the dramatically different styles, media, sizes and concepts behind the wide range of artworks: and the many subtle and not so subtle emotions that the various works evoked.
Pierre Botha
Landscapes, both abstract and realistic
Speaking to one gallery director and curator, in broken English, I was reminded that every viewer experiences each piece very differently, either in line with or despite what the artist intended.
This particular curator is a believer that to know which piece to purchase, one must choose which artwork resonates with one, on a more instinctive level, and less on a solely intellectual one. Choosing an artwork can then come down to the questions: What do you see, and how does it make you feel?
Advice from another gallery owner, is to see what attracts your attention and draws you in, and then to walk away, take a break from viewing, and see which works ‘linger’ in your mind. The one that has ‘hooked’ you, is most likely the one that you have a connection with and will appreciate for years to come.
I don’t know. I just like it…
Some artworks resonate with one for obvious reasons – perhaps they are bold, big, blatant and impactful or even shocking. Others bring about feelings that rise from the subconscious or even the unconscious and resonate because of the associations that they bring to the viewer’s mind and soul.
In our curatorial process, this is often a similar experience. We choose what feels right at the time, and what resonates with us, even when we can’t articulate why. A work will stand out as one that will pair well with the others. Once we have chosen a display, the rest is out of our control, as the saying goes: ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’. One viewer will walk past or not even notice a work that the next viewer will stand and stare at for minutes.
This is what makes viewing art so interesting and pleasurable. What the viewer sees and experiences is unpredictable – we leave it to them to find a work that draws them in and hope that the variety of works in our gallery – from large abstract paintings, small landscape paintings, various prints, to quirky charcoal illustrations, and street-scene painted photographs – has something for everyone to enjoy.
