The Language of Visual Art - Essay Example

The Language of Visual Art Art is both a form of communication as well as expression. Since its beginning, art has been used to relay information and express feelings. These descriptions closely align as well as differ with each other. In some cases, a piece of art can play both roles; being a form of communication as well as an expression of emotions. Sometimes the role and meaning of art lies in the mind of audience. This essay shall revisit the various roles of art as either communication or expression. Art, just like spoken language, can be used as a means of communication. It has always acted as a channel of communication between two parties. Art goes to the furthest extent of communication; there is no boundary for this form of communication. Visual art, in particular, is used to persuade, encourage, warn, rebuke, advocate and create awareness. All these are items of communication (Rudolf, 1975). Communication is when there is need for feedback from the audience. Art delivers information either through text or without text. When art is used to persuade, the expectation is that the audience will gradually respond by joining the visual artist in his arguments and beliefs. Persuasion can be done by either revealing the evilness of the opposition side or by bringing out the goodness of the proponent. In the contemporary world today, persuasion is achieved by visual art. Companies have utilized various visual artistic symbols to win the attention of the public (Dewey, 1934). Visual art with text will easily relay the intended message to the audience since it does not need further interpretation. The audience can read the text as well as see and feel the texture. The message is always direct and clear. One advantage of this form of visual artistic communication is that the chances of misinterpretation and misunderstanding have been minimized. Visual art with text is quite common the contemporary world. In as much as text makes easy interpretation, it gets harder for illiterate audience who may only need to rely on the visual interpretation of the art. Visual art also communicate through color, texture and tone. Conventionally, different colors symbolize different phenomena. Visual artists, especially painters, make use of color symbolism to communicate to their audience. The representations of the colors are not only understood by the visual artist that use them but also by the public audience. Some of the colors mostly used to communicate include but not limited to red, white, black and green (Rudolf, 1975). The colors mentioned above usually act as text in reaching the audience. Here, a visual artist does not necessarily have to include a text in his piece of work. The message is in the color. One advantage of using this kind of “text” is that it can be read by all, both the literate and the illiterate audience (Wallis, 1971). The audience readily relates with the colors and quickly interprets the intended message. Red color represents danger or love, depending on the context of the piece of art. If, for instance, an electric pole has been painted red, then the audience will quickly interpret it to danger. Therefore, they will try to avoid that particular pole. In this case, the art has been used to communicate a warning. A visual artist has sent a warning and the recipient give their feedback by avoiding the danger. When a white color is used, audience will quickly interpret it to peace or harmless. In a typical painting, the angels are always depicted as white. The angels are believed to be very peaceful and harmless. Heaven too is believed to be very peaceful, thus, all beings from heaven must be carrying the peace as well (Rudolf, 1975). White also represents cleanliness or sinless, just like the angels. Therefore, when a being in visual art is portrayed as white, the audience shall interpret it as innocent and peaceful. In this manner, the color has communicated the characteristic traits of a character in a piece of art. Black color may be the direct opposite of white. It creates a contrast between good and evil. It represents darkness and evil in the society. When visual artist uses black color, he might be communicating the negative aspects of life. Note that in the examples cited here, the color has acted as “text” that audience need to read and interpret. Different elements of visual art including color and texture can as well act as the language of communication. These aspects, when appropriately used, become a universal language that is understood by audience from all walks of life. The language of art does not need interpretation. A person can feel a texture and read “smooth” or “rough”. Here, texture has been used as a language of communicating roughness or smoothness of something (Dewey, 1934). The above paragraphs have described the role of visual as a means of communication. It has been established that art acts both as text and as a language that is understood by all. There are other many ways in which art depicts communication. Besides communication, art can also be used as a means of expression. These two words; communication and expression, have usually been used interchangeably by different scholars. Sometimes the audience misses the point intended by a visual artist, between communicating and expressing. Whereas communication is a mere relaying of information, expression goes deeper. Expression connects the inner being with the outside world. It is the presence of inner feelings on the surface of the real world (Wallis, 1971). Art has always been the key connect between the abstract world and the reality. Visual artist use art to express deeper feelings, meanings, thoughts and mysteries. Here, the audience has to be devoted to that piece of art so as to connect with its intended expression. Communication is very fast but expression may take time to be achieved (Wallis, 1971). Nature is of the many things that art can express. The qualities of an art can express nature of a particular character in that piece (Wallis, 1971). These qualities include but not limited to color, texture, tone, size and symmetry. These aspects can be manipulated to create nature of an object or personality. For instance, in a painting of a couple, the man may be given a relatively rougher texture than the wife. As such, one can easily tell the sex from the look of the skin. It only takes a touch of the two characters in the art. Texture does not express masculinity. It reveals the nature of many other things, both living and non-living. Take an example of a painting of a plant. The various parts of this plant will bear different texture so as to express their nature. For that reason, the petals shall have the softest texture while the bark shall be the roughest part of it. One advantage of using texture as a means of expression is that it can be easily felt and interpreted by all kinds of audience, including the blind. This fact creates a big rift between communication and expression. It does not need much literacy to understand. Unlike communication, expression only takes the instincts of the audience. In the case of texture, the audience may use either the eyes or the skin to tell and interpret the nature of an object (Dewey, 1934). Apart from the texture and nature, expression plays its greatest role in emotions. Art expresses all manner of emotions. These include but not limited to love, anger, hatred, revenge, regrets, disappointments, unity, and many more. The visual artists usually make use of tone, symmetry, color and other aspects to express the emotions. For instance, an artist may increase the redness of the eyes to express anger or rage. The wrinkles on the face may be used to express age and wisdom. The moods of a dancer can be observed from her dancing (Dewey, 1934). Generally, visual art has more advantages over written or verbal art. Visual art form the basis of art; other form may be seen as its compliments. Visual art is the foundation of both communication and expression. It forms a strong framework upon which other forms of art are laid. Even though visual art may seem to carry some limitations, they have masked by other forms such as verbal and written art. As earlier mentioned, visual art has a neutral and universal language. It speaks directly to the audience on behalf of any orator. The language of art is a worldwide language. There is no need of interpretation. Thus, visual art connects all races of the world and make them speak in one language. In verbal art, the artists usually find it hard to establish one language that connects the world. Well, not even English (Rudolf, 1975). Visual art does not also require greater levels of literacy to be understood. It only takes the eyes to drive the information into the mind and soul. This fact is an advantage to all. For that matter, visual art connects the illiterate society with the literate (Wallis, 1971). This form of art does not alienate the less fortunate. In written art, for instance, it takes the audience their literacy to understand and interpret the meaning of certain hard words in a phrase. However, visual art has some hidden weaknesses. Since it gives the audience the liberation to see and interpret what they want, different people may come up with different conflicting perceptions and interpretations of one piece of art. For example, one person may interpret red color for love while the other may interpret it as danger. Such conflicting ideologies may render a piece of art as controversial and refutable. Another weakness of visual art is its inability to deliver to the blind. It has nothing to offer to such audience, thus, becomes meaningless to them. Nonetheless, visual art is still the most adorable way of presenting art (Rudolf, 1975). Reference Dewey, J. (1934). Art as Experience. Putnam. New York Rudolf, A. (1975) Art and Visual Perception. University of California Press. Los Angels Wallis, B. (1971). Art after Modernism. The New Museum Contemporary Art. New York Wentworth, P. (1934). The Language of Art from Phenomenology Painting. Putnam. New York Read More