Definitions of Abstract Art
Abstract Art Definition: 20th-century movement characterized by the reduction of natural appearances into simplified forms; for example, constructing art on the basis of geometric shapes or intuitive gestures
Nonobjective Art Definition: art that doesn’t depend on the appearance of the visual world as a starting point; the assumption is that art doesn’t have to be about anything other than formal elements: shape and color
Abstract art is art that does not attempt to represent an accurate depiction of a visual reality but instead use shapes, colours, forms and gestural marks to achieve its effect.
There are a number of definitions of abstract art. The real question is - is it really possible to have one, coherent abstract art definition that would include all complexities of this movement? But, we could say that abstract artists use a visual language of shape, form, color, and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. Abstract art movement does not depict a person, place or thing in the natural world; or it does, but does not make any visual references. What is very important to mention when trying to define abstract art is the fact that abstract artists do not deal with the representational interpretation of a subject. The idea is to only communicate with the viewers in an attempt to understand “reality”. All types of abstract art share a common position – reality is subjective and not concrete, and it’s up to a viewer to define it.
Abstract art uses visual language of shape, form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world.
The definition. Abstraction literally means the distancing of an idea from objective referents. That means, in the visual arts, pulling a depiction away from any literal, representational reference points. You can also call abstract art nonrepresentational art.
Abstract art is a multifaceted genre. It puts forward shape, colour, and form rather than specific, immediately discernible objects. It’s also known as non-objective. Also lesser so, non-representational or non-figurative art. These terms are similar, but not identical to abstract art.
As Oxford Dictionary declares in its abstract art definition: abstraction is “freedom from representational qualities in art” and, in a broader sense, “the quality of dealing with ideas rather than events”. This pretty much sums up the essence of this art movement, in which idea and emotion always prevail.
Tate Gallery
“Art that does not attempt to represent an accurate depiction of a visual reality but instead uses shapes, colours, forms and gestural marks to achieve its affects.
“Art is the concrete representation of our most subtle feelings”. Agnes Martin
"Abstract art is all about accident" Matthew Collins
"(abstract art) is some kind of visual metaphor which will be rich enough for what one might call reality." Matthew Collins