Abstraction is the ability to
generalize: an intellectual activity of the brain that can only succeed by
excluding sentiment and emotion. The result can be a theoretical hypothesis, a
mathematic formula, or a scientific analysis with rational conclusions. All
very useful and important for many areas of human behavior and development. And
very exciting when it leads to new inventions or better knowledge and
understanding of reality. I’m the last one to trivialize the value of it.
Mankind owes the greater part of civilisation and technology to it.
To translate the results of
abstraction into concrete measures and facilities communication is
indispensable. All kinds of “language” – meaningful sequences of sounds,
movements, images and/or letters, or a combination of these – can be used for
this purpose.
When a message doesn’t contain
more than the results of abstraction, it serves as a utility, having no other
objective than to provide information for practical purposes, such as government,
industry, science, and art as well.
Mind you, this doesn’t mean
that all these activities cannot be executed without abstract
information. In fact, a good part of it, especially in government and art,
doesn’t make any use of it at all. Now back to art.
Art uses the same “languages” as
any message – sounds, images, letters, movements - but not purely rational. Apart from facts and
abstractions art also communicates feelings, emotions and sentiments, using not
only the brain but every tool available to human beings. That way the
messages are extended with craftsmanship and filled with life. Even when the
artist uses only abstractions as the basis for a work, he/she will always give
it a unique identity, and the result will be surprising, moving and beautiful instead of only useful. Art personalizes the general. That's the opposite of abstraction.
