What does the brain tell us about abstract art?
In this essay I focus on the question of why we are attracted to abstract art (or, perhaps more accurately, non-representational art). After elaborating on the processing of visual art in general and abstract art in particular, I discuss recent data from neuroscience and behavioral studies related t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2014-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00085/full |
| _version_ | 1818409152900235264 |
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| author | Vered eAviv |
| author_facet | Vered eAviv |
| author_sort | Vered eAviv |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this essay I focus on the question of why we are attracted to abstract art (or, perhaps more accurately, non-representational art). After elaborating on the processing of visual art in general and abstract art in particular, I discuss recent data from neuroscience and behavioral studies related to abstract art. I conclude with several speculations concerning our apparent appeal to this particular type of art. In particular, I claim that abstract art frees our brain from the dominance of reality, enabling it to flow within its inner states, create new emotional and cognitive associations, and activate brain-states that are otherwise harder to access. This process is apparently rewarding as it enables the exploration of yet undiscovered inner territories of the viewer’s brain. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T09:55:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3d1f427ff88f4761b57dd1fea0b587bd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T09:55:05Z |
| publishDate | 2014-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-3d1f427ff88f4761b57dd1fea0b587bd2022-12-21T23:07:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612014-02-01810.3389/fnhum.2014.0008576651What does the brain tell us about abstract art?Vered eAviv0The Jerusalem Academy of Music and DanceIn this essay I focus on the question of why we are attracted to abstract art (or, perhaps more accurately, non-representational art). After elaborating on the processing of visual art in general and abstract art in particular, I discuss recent data from neuroscience and behavioral studies related to abstract art. I conclude with several speculations concerning our apparent appeal to this particular type of art. In particular, I claim that abstract art frees our brain from the dominance of reality, enabling it to flow within its inner states, create new emotional and cognitive associations, and activate brain-states that are otherwise harder to access. This process is apparently rewarding as it enables the exploration of yet undiscovered inner territories of the viewer’s brain.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00085/fullneuroestheticsabstract artNeural correlates of artArtistic preferenceart and associations |
| spellingShingle | Vered eAviv What does the brain tell us about abstract art? Frontiers in Human Neuroscience neuroesthetics abstract art Neural correlates of art Artistic preference art and associations |
| title | What does the brain tell us about abstract art? |
| title_full | What does the brain tell us about abstract art? |
| title_fullStr | What does the brain tell us about abstract art? |
| title_full_unstemmed | What does the brain tell us about abstract art? |
| title_short | What does the brain tell us about abstract art? |
| title_sort | what does the brain tell us about abstract art |
| topic | neuroesthetics abstract art Neural correlates of art Artistic preference art and associations |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00085/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT veredeaviv whatdoesthebraintellusaboutabstractart |