Re/Defining Abstraction Research
This research project, as part of my MFA at Nottingham Trent University, aims to build understanding of the elements that support the practice of artists working in abstraction, driven by the desire to consider the interplay between artist and art object with that of the viewer.
What is the research project about?
Working in abstraction often makes meaning more difficult to explain in terms of its literal presentation, use of material, and the representation of ‘something’. These challenges, coupled with the limits of human perception, are fascinating and this project seeks to understand abstraction from a range of artist perspectives, historical and contemporary.
I plan to work with other artists using abstraction to collaboratively consider what creating abstract work means now, trying to identify common conceptual strands in how the artists approach their work, from the inspiration, to the use or material and process, and finally to the engagements they might create with audiences.
Why is this research relevant?
Abstracted 35, Set 1, 2020. An example of how I use material to create new work.
The driver for this project stems from my own relationship with abstraction, and my attempts to define where it comes from and how it manifests within my practice. My work tends to be rooted in the scientific or geographical ways of seeing the world, or in the invisible, with these sources offering one way of interpreting what might be seen in the images I create. This leads to a desire for understanding meaning, to being able to place a work in a space within or outside of art.
Understanding the source inspiration and the external manifestation will help me to articulate my practice more clearly with artists and audiences on a deeper, and potentially, more meaningful basis.
My experiences in recent years suggest that abstraction requires a balance between giving enough or not enough information for the viewer to engage with, too far removed from this ‘sweet spot’ and one risks becoming figurative/literal or devoid of meaning.
Through this project I hope to develop an understanding of how abstract artists create work that resonates with audiences and speaks of something beyond the surface. The key focus is to build connections with other artists as a way of understanding contemporary abstraction and the links between artists; and how this might be interpreted as a contemporary school of making.
The evolving environments, physically and digitally, that artists operate within offers challenges and opportunities for engaging with audiences and other artists. It is hoped that this research might also support the development of a network of conceptually linked artists.
What does the research project include?
The research will focus on the following strands:
1. Understanding how abstraction developed
The project will include an introduction, considering early abstract/non-objective artists and how they paved the way for new approaches to engaging with audiences
2. Definitions in articulating abstraction
Finding out about how contemporary artists define their own practice and articulate abstraction
3. Understanding where interests and inspirations lie.
Understanding where artists draw inspiration from, within and outside of artistic spheres.
4. Identifying the role of material and of practice within abstracted rooted practices
Considering how the artists define and use material within their practice, literally or conceptually
Considering the importance of process within abstraction practices, be that in ways of working or in how material is used and transformed
6. How meaning is found and communicated with the viewer
Understanding how the artists communicate the meaning of their work and facilitate interactions.
Find out more
If you’d like to know, please download the Re/defining Abstraction - Flyer for Artists
Read more on my blog
Interested in being involved in this research project?
I’m keen that this project isn’t just a part of my studies, I see it as an opportunity to celebrate different approaches to abstraction and the people who use them, finding connections that might go on to support a wide network of artists. This research is driven by an attempt to understand my own practice more by developing links with artists who inspire me in their thinking or outcomes and I hope that by being involved, the artists will benefit in the form of new knowledge or understanding and a network of artists to share and support. It is also hoped that this understanding might help artists engage with audiences, old and new.
If you would like to be involved, I’d love to hear from you, send me a message using the contact form below: