Project 4

Presentation of the New Visual Art of the QJF Art & Science Gallery

 

One of the general objectives of the project is to present the new artistic program of the QJF Art& Science Gallery. In contrast to the existing galleries that expose works of art by showing a selected topic, a given artist or a characteristic period of artistic  development, the exposition of the QJF Art & Science Gallery is based on the result of the research on the image understanding, aesthetic evaluation and artistic exploration of the micro-macro world.

The Gallery is based on an artistic program that comprises of the three thematic strands:

1. Masterpieces as signs - the artistic interpretation of the best artistic works is placed in an interpretational context as signs of human existence.

2. Works of art as a result of systematic investigations - works of art are created through investigation of the visual structure of selected pictures.

3. Scientific beauty of the expanded visual field - the source of the aesthetic inspiration might be found not only in the world of our common existence but also, due to the expansion of our scale of perception, in the’ micro-macro’ world.

An artistic program of the QJF Art & Science Gallery is based on the research in aesthetic evaluation of the picture. The new method of aesthetic evaluation that was elaborated is applied to find the criteria on which the existing picture can be included to be a part of the gallery exhibition. An aesthetic evaluation refers to the generic class of pictures. The generic class of pictures is based on the nine levels of description that were introduced based on the research in aesthetic evaluation. These levels are as follows: an environmental level, a material level, a geometric level, a relational level, a perceptual level, a semantic level, a real-world reference level, a story level, a sign level, and a symbolic level. Different levels of description allow us to obtain different ways of description of the picture.

The concept of the generic class was introduced based on an assumption that the picture elements such as point, line, or a geometrical object of a given shape are basic ingredients from which picture is composed. Each element of the picture is described by its characteristic feature. Selecting picture elements and imposing constraints on the feature of the selected elements generate the class of pictures that is called the generic class of pictures. For example, different features of line create a subclass of pictures in which line plays the role of dividing the picture plane and can be used as a model of a generic class of pictures. The concept of generic classes is used to divide universe of all possible pictures into classes, which include all pictures that exist or can be composed.

The works of art are divided into one of the three groups. It is assumed that the first group – ‘works of art as a result of the systematic investigations’ consists of pictures that are created based on the investigation of the visual structure of the picture. The class of pictures that is obtained in this way is characterized by the reduction of the art to its purest form. Rules discovered during theoretical and empirical investigations are applied during the picture composition. Pictures are divided into classes, called generic classes, depending on the elements that dominate in the picture. During picture composition at first the generic class is selected and next all characteristic features are modified to obtain an aesthetic effect.

It is assumed that the second group – ‘scientific beauty as a result of the expanded visual field’ consists of pictures that are composed based on the inspiration that comes from expansion of our scale of perception. While much of the natural world is hidden from us because we can not see heat, ultraviolet light, radio waves or x-rays directly, much more of it is beyond our immediate comprehension because it is too small, too faint or too distant, or even too big to be detected by the naked eye. This invisible universe is filled with intrigue and interest of all kind of scales and most of its objects possesses its own beauty. In order to find a description of the world in terms of beauty the ‘raw’ perceptual material needs to be transformed into an aesthetic form in the process of an artistic creative act. The visual world of science stimulates the imagination with views of nature that can be stirring in their beauty, composition and texture. Science is a method of unveiling the beauty of facts as well as a confirmation of our extraordinary capability and intellectual power.

It is assumed that the third group – ‘masterpieces as signs of human existence’ consists of pictures that are artistic interpretation of the best artistic works and is placed in the interpretational context of the sign of the human existence. Artistic interpretations are not mere replicas - faithful copies that differ from the original only by random imperfections. They refer to the general concept that constitutes the meaning of the picture. The pictorial interpretations select, arrange and almost unnoticeably stylize its content in such a way that it focuses on some of the essential visual features. The pictures of this group are regarded as works of art meaning of which can be seen on the many levels of interpretation. Allegorical pictures depict the story in which the characters, events, and setting represent deeper truths or generalizations than those suggested by the surface story. Allegory can thus be understood on more than one level of interpretation. The meaning conveyed may be obvious, subtle, or virtually concealed by the painter. Allegorical pictures were regarded as convenient means of expressing ideas. Allegorical works show the visual representation of the general concepts such as temptation or rebellion.

The exhibition of the selected works of art of the QJF Art & Science Gallery was on the display in June 2003 in Melbourne.

 

Selected works of art from QJF A&S Gallery

 

 

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