loving art, science and creative kids

This is an image that can be seen with your eyes.

What does this image say to you

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"I try to apply colors like words that shape poems, like notes that shape music. "- Joan Miró

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Interpreting art

Anatole France once wrote, "Even a little dog is at the center of his own universe." We interpret the world in different ways because our experiences are different. There is no single reality. Not only do our pasts differ, but the cones and rods in our eyes are not the same. The notes we hear at a concert are similar to fingerprints that are uniquely our own.

When I paint, I use bold colors and shapes influenced by how my eyes see and my ears hear. They are expressions of past experiences mixed with a little bit of mystery. My pictures tell a story that viewers interpret in their own way. When they are abstract, I'm overwhelmed by the feedback I get. Listening to such varied comments makes me wonder how interpreters of Rorschach tests would analyze the responses.

In a clinical setting, the Rorschach tests provide insight into healthy emotions. It is a way for people to gain insight into their psyche. The test also helps diagnose diseases like schizophrenia. Assuming most of us are not psychotic, I thought it would be interesting to look at my artwork as though interpreting an inkblot. It might be a way to get to know yourself better.

When shown an image, some patients respond by seeing it in its entirety, while others look at parts. Some focus on the white space, others on color, and still others on the details. People tend to have similar interpretations of parts in the image. Psychiatrists pay special attention to the uncommon details patients talk about.

Art patrons and clinical patients alike vary in cognitive abilities and perceptual accuracy. They attend a viewing with different goals, interests, flexibility of ideas, and emotions. They come seeking order whereas others find chaos. Following are a few of my abstract pieces. With a Rorschach test in mind, I'd like to know what you make of them. Please comment below. I would love to hear your interpretations.

I think there are many open-ended questions that artists can pose and we can ask communities to feel empowered enough to reply, respond, rebel, and feel amazed by the relentless spiraling of thought and image and action that is the artist's profession. – Kara Walker

References:

  Frothingham,B.( 2021) Rorschach Inkblot Test: Definition, History & interpretation. Simply Psychology. retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/what-is-the-rorschach-inkblot-test.html

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