Abstraction and Process

Abstract art is art that does not attempt to represent an accurate depiction or 'replica' of a visual reality, instead uses shapes, colours, forms and gestural marks to achieve the desired effect. 

They are two types of abstract art. The first is when an artists has a particular object in mind and they remove (abstract) elements from the object to create a more simplified form. The second is when the artist is not trying to depict a certain object or view, but is instead depicting a feeling or emotion. This type of art is often described as 'concrete art' or 'non-objective art' but the term 'abstract' is used to cover both approaches as the distinction between the two are not always obvious.

Juan Gris

This painting by Gris named 'Bottle of Rum and Newspaper' is a great example of cubism. An art form under the umbrella term of 'Abstract art'. With realism, artists would paint scenes as they actually looked, with one perspective and one viewpoint. Cubism however looks at the image from multiple viewpoints, then simplifying the image to it's most basic forms. The artists aim was to show things as they actually are, not just what they look like. To give the viewer a more accurate understanding of an object, the object would be shown from different angles, and each flat geometric shape represented the different sides and angles of the object. By doing this, they could suggest it's 3D qualities without having to use techniques such as perspective or shading.

In this painting, Gris constructed the image from intersecting angular planes. Some of these have wood grain, suggesting a wooden table top. The randomly placed block letters hint to a newspaper, and the brown in the top suggesting a bottle of liquid. As you can see, the details aren't very clear and you have to actively search to find them and often without a title, you are left to guess what is being depicted. This leaves a lot of the subject matter and meaning of the paintings to be left to the viewer. Often cubism or other examples of abstract art, each individual viewer would see something different in the work, and can only be understood fully through the viewers imagination. 

Robert Morris

Morris created this piece (untitled) using the minimalist art form. Minimalism is described as artworks composed of simple geometric shapes based on the square and rectangle. It's seen as an extension of the abstract idea that art should have its own reality and not be an imitation of something else. The artist wants the viewer to respond only to what is in front of them, and not what it could be, or the meaning behind it.

Aesthetically, minimalist art shows only the purified form of beauty, and represents truth, order, simplicity and harmony. It's usually seen in 3D sculptures, showing only the bare necessities. The artwork is not there to reflect the personal expression of the artist, as this is seen as a distraction from the object itself, instead creating objects that are as impersonal and neutral as possible.

Minimalist art directly engages with the space it occupies, such as Morris's mirrored cubes reflect the the walls and people on their surface. It's carefully arranged to emphasise and reveal the architecture of the gallery, encouraging the viewer to be conscious of the space.