Art does not have to have a specific meaning or message in order to be considered valuable or impactful. Instead, it can simply be a form of poetic expression that evokes emotions and creates a sense of beauty or wonder in the viewer. This approach to art has been embraced by various artists throughout history, including the Dadaists, Abstract Expressionists, and other artists who believed that art should be an expression of one's self, emotions, and feelings, rather than a representation of something else.
Just like in music, where the melody and harmony evoke emotions, the same goes for visual art, where the forms and colors evoke emotions. The same way that freeform poetry doesn't follow a specific structure or rhyme scheme, art doesn't have to follow a specific subject or message. In fact, many artists throughout history have believed that art should be a form of self-expression rather than a representation of something else.
The Dada movement, which emerged in the early 20th century, was a reaction to the atrocities of World War I and the perceived meaninglessness of traditional art. The Dadaists rejected the idea that art should have a clear meaning or purpose, and instead focused on creating works that were nonsensical and absurd. As the Dadaist artist Tristan Tzara said, "Dada is the art of those who are fed up with art." Dadaism movement was an important step in the development of the visual poetry.
Similarly, the Abstract Expressionists of the 1940s and 1950s rejected traditional notions of representation and meaning in art. They instead focused on creating works that were expressive and emotive, using gestural brushstrokes and bold colors to evoke a sense of movement and energy. As the Abstract Expressionist artist Jackson Pollock said, "I am nature." The freeform approach to art was a way for the artists to express their emotions and feelings without the need of representation.
Artists like Mark Rothko, who believed that his abstract paintings were a form of "silent poetry," and Barnett Newman, who said that his work was not about representation but about "the expression of man's essential nature" also embraced this approach of visual poetry. Rothko's paintings are a perfect example of how color and form can evoke emotions in the viewer, just like a melody can evoke emotions in a listener.
In music, the freeform approach is often associated with jazz and improvisation, where the musician creates music on the spot, without following a specific structure or melody. Similarly, in visual art, the freeform approach is associated with abstract expressionism and other movements that reject traditional notions of representation and meaning.
In conclusion, art does not have to have a specific meaning or message in order to be considered valuable or impactful. Instead, it can simply be a form of poetic expression that evokes emotions and creates a sense of beauty or wonder in the viewer. This approach to art, known as visual poetry, has been embraced by various artists throughout history, including the Dadaists, Abstract Expressionists, and others who believed that art should be an expression of one's self, emotions, and feelings, rather than a representation of something else.
References:
- Tristan Tzara, "Dada Manifesto 1918"
- Jackson Pollock, "I am nature"
- Mark Rothko, "Silent Poetry"
- Barnett Newman, "the expression of man's essential nature"