Titling my artworks is a significant process in my artworks. It's a daunting task for me as I am not a word nerd but I don't give up and avoid to resort on an old standby "Untitled". And moreover I believe that viewers experience more from the artworks when it is tied with an awesome title.
Titles come to my mind sometimes during the process , sometimes when it is completed and I sit back and look at the artwork. And then I take thesaurus and try to find a good synonym for the word in my mind. Many artists don't like the idea of naming as they feel that we should leave it to the individual interpretation of the viewer. In my opinion names give an initial direction for the viewers to look at the artwork and it does give room for the viewer to his/her own meaning to the artwork.
Moreover good title help sell the artwork. It helps you easily organize and sort through and find a piece easily when you want it. I can easily find my works on my blog since they are titled. When we are posting works on internet, the works untitled will not get far away when it comes to search engine optimization(SEO).
Though a daunting task I definitely enjoy it. Sometimes I involve my friends and my blog readers . Then it's very interesting when people come up with different names out of their own perspective looking at the artwork. I remember how a friend who encouraged my art, helped me to get a name for one of my artworks after my Exhibition at Czech Republic.
Considering this subject I decided to invite some of the fellow artists to give their opinion and here is what they say...
Award winning cartoonist and illustrator, Uttam Ghosh:
I think a title is very much needed. It guides and helps the viewer. Art is viewed by the masses and we have very few art appreciation initiatives. The title itself can be creative it can lure, educate, tease, arouse curiosity. And also creates biases in the visual experiences.
Sometimes i feel we should not have a title. But then i think, if we don't, it creates a wall between art and the viewer. And not a bridge. I also am very uncomfortable signing my artworks. I feel it breaks the illusion created between the viewer and the work. The signature reminds the viewer of the creator. And disturbs the experience.
Fabric artist Vaishali Oak who creates beautiful fabric assemblages says:
I always find it difficult to title my art works, Although our art reflects our thought process and also state of mind . Still it is difficult to bind it and produce a title for it.
The situation Is always .... I think so ...or may be...that kind of words we use. Being sure for something is very difficult. Titling your art work is also art...!
But I think as artist matures and have a very clear vision and be very aware of his or her thoughts , if he is dipped in to the process so much that, title occurs naturally.
Artist Vaishali Rajapurkar who does abstract paintings and has immense pleasure in creating her new series From my Garden, says:
80% of my paintings happen in my head, so the idea ,the title , the colour palette are very clear even before I start on my canvas.
A painting is like a story , and the title helps in conveying that visual story to the viewer.
Artist Smita Raje Deshpande who is also an art therapist:
I loved the point of not signing the art work as it disturbs the experience for the viewer.
I too believed that the title is the bridge between the art and the viewer but on the other hand I also feel the title also gives a very definite direction of thoughts, not leaving the viewer discretion to be explored.
I think title is much needed in any form of art expression . It gives better understanding of what the artist wanted to viewers see , feel & enjoy .
Descriptive title creates a story line that causes the viewer to consciously process the art.
Artist Anand Paropakari views in a different way and asks, "Why even bother so much to put a title?
If it’s a realistic work viewers will understand the story anyways.
If it’s an abstract let them create their ‘own story’ out of it, why bias them with yours? Why would one want to insist that viewers must understand painting and that too painters point of view?".
On this I in fact think that viewers understanding art is nothing but art appreciation and the title starts the conversation. Of course the viewers are free to go in any direction to connect with the artwork .
To answer his questions , Artist Uttam Ghosh says, "We as artists should also try to break this notion about 'understanding art' art is not a quiz, it isn't challenging the viewer or confronting it, it isnt a battle where somebody wins and loses. It should be democratic and equal.
That's why art appreciation is very important. It helps the artist as well as the viewer. Like academics art appreciation comes with a lot of history which should be shared with all. We also need to deconstruct academics to be creative. Picasso's primitiveness is all about deconstruction.
Artists need to struggle within, learn and learn to deconstruct and also educate the people and take them along".
He further says,"We don't ask our children which school they would like to go to. We get them admitted in the ones which we think is 'best'. That's the bias. What we don't tell our children is that they represent a bias. We expect the school to give good education.
Instead they are put into a template.
Artists always help deconstructing that bias.
When asked that isn't appreciation necessary, artist Anand answered, " It is. Appreciation, criticism, constructive feedback are essential. But - again in the context of ‘title’- title doesn’t enhance either of these.In my opinion , title surely serves a purpose of providing a way to uniquely identify an artwork from hundreds of his/her artworks".
Artist Swapna Joshi says," I feel , with the title , viewer can get idea of artist thoughts! But even when it is titled "untitled" ,viewers tend to think in their own way".
Thanks to my artist friends for their contributions. My blog readers , who are artists or those who simply love to view art , feel free to comment on this topic.
Titles come to my mind sometimes during the process , sometimes when it is completed and I sit back and look at the artwork. And then I take thesaurus and try to find a good synonym for the word in my mind. Many artists don't like the idea of naming as they feel that we should leave it to the individual interpretation of the viewer. In my opinion names give an initial direction for the viewers to look at the artwork and it does give room for the viewer to his/her own meaning to the artwork.
Moreover good title help sell the artwork. It helps you easily organize and sort through and find a piece easily when you want it. I can easily find my works on my blog since they are titled. When we are posting works on internet, the works untitled will not get far away when it comes to search engine optimization(SEO).
"Korálové moře"...a Czech name for Coral sea.
Considering this subject I decided to invite some of the fellow artists to give their opinion and here is what they say...
Award winning cartoonist and illustrator, Uttam Ghosh:
I think a title is very much needed. It guides and helps the viewer. Art is viewed by the masses and we have very few art appreciation initiatives. The title itself can be creative it can lure, educate, tease, arouse curiosity. And also creates biases in the visual experiences.
Sometimes i feel we should not have a title. But then i think, if we don't, it creates a wall between art and the viewer. And not a bridge. I also am very uncomfortable signing my artworks. I feel it breaks the illusion created between the viewer and the work. The signature reminds the viewer of the creator. And disturbs the experience.
Fabric artist Vaishali Oak who creates beautiful fabric assemblages says:
I always find it difficult to title my art works, Although our art reflects our thought process and also state of mind . Still it is difficult to bind it and produce a title for it.
The situation Is always .... I think so ...or may be...that kind of words we use. Being sure for something is very difficult. Titling your art work is also art...!
But I think as artist matures and have a very clear vision and be very aware of his or her thoughts , if he is dipped in to the process so much that, title occurs naturally.
Artist Vaishali Rajapurkar who does abstract paintings and has immense pleasure in creating her new series From my Garden, says:
80% of my paintings happen in my head, so the idea ,the title , the colour palette are very clear even before I start on my canvas.
A painting is like a story , and the title helps in conveying that visual story to the viewer.
Artist Smita Raje Deshpande who is also an art therapist:
I loved the point of not signing the art work as it disturbs the experience for the viewer.
I too believed that the title is the bridge between the art and the viewer but on the other hand I also feel the title also gives a very definite direction of thoughts, not leaving the viewer discretion to be explored.
I think title is much needed in any form of art expression . It gives better understanding of what the artist wanted to viewers see , feel & enjoy .
Descriptive title creates a story line that causes the viewer to consciously process the art.
Artist Anand Paropakari views in a different way and asks, "Why even bother so much to put a title?
If it’s a realistic work viewers will understand the story anyways.
If it’s an abstract let them create their ‘own story’ out of it, why bias them with yours? Why would one want to insist that viewers must understand painting and that too painters point of view?".
On this I in fact think that viewers understanding art is nothing but art appreciation and the title starts the conversation. Of course the viewers are free to go in any direction to connect with the artwork .
To answer his questions , Artist Uttam Ghosh says, "We as artists should also try to break this notion about 'understanding art' art is not a quiz, it isn't challenging the viewer or confronting it, it isnt a battle where somebody wins and loses. It should be democratic and equal.
That's why art appreciation is very important. It helps the artist as well as the viewer. Like academics art appreciation comes with a lot of history which should be shared with all. We also need to deconstruct academics to be creative. Picasso's primitiveness is all about deconstruction.
Artists need to struggle within, learn and learn to deconstruct and also educate the people and take them along".
He further says,"We don't ask our children which school they would like to go to. We get them admitted in the ones which we think is 'best'. That's the bias. What we don't tell our children is that they represent a bias. We expect the school to give good education.
Instead they are put into a template.
Artists always help deconstructing that bias.
When asked that isn't appreciation necessary, artist Anand answered, " It is. Appreciation, criticism, constructive feedback are essential. But - again in the context of ‘title’- title doesn’t enhance either of these.In my opinion , title surely serves a purpose of providing a way to uniquely identify an artwork from hundreds of his/her artworks".
Artist Swapna Joshi says," I feel , with the title , viewer can get idea of artist thoughts! But even when it is titled "untitled" ,viewers tend to think in their own way".
Thanks to my artist friends for their contributions. My blog readers , who are artists or those who simply love to view art , feel free to comment on this topic.
Superbly penned by all and a very intresting discussion. Keep these discussions gouging. Enjoyed your blog Manisha
ReplyDeleteThanks Smita for the encouragement and your contribution towards the discussion.
ReplyDelete