Do you give titles to your artwork or write descriptions?
I think the description is important with abstract work especially. It helps give people context. Titles too. For a while I was like, Untitled #7, you know? And that’s great, but it really doesn’t help people looking at it. So titles helped me be more engaging with the audience and kind of give people background by saying, This title could mean this. And if some of the work that I’m doing is based off of an old photograph or traditional dance or something I’ll reference that. It helps give people clues and they can feel more connected to the piece and the experience.
But the opposite reason why I love abstract art is because it asks questions, it asks you what it is. If it’s realistic it just tells you, This is what I am. And personally, I don’t want to be told what to do, I want to be asked and I’ll be happy to do it. So I’m drawn to abstract work because it allows that kind of freedom for the viewer to kind of ask and to imagine.