Intro Abstraction and Narrative (Thompson)

Narrative Art:

Obvious or implicit connection between objects in a scene. Symbols and figures find relationship, connection, and meaning in the piece. Under the keyword "gender/sexuality", this I an image with narrative.

David Rios Ferreira "The more time passes, the more I love you"


Non-Narrative Art:

Viewer struggles to clarify the connection between the symbols. The observer can draw a meaning, but meanings will likely be highly subjective. Non-Narrative art can express a greater idea in the universe rather than an identifiable circumstance with components.

Under the same keyword "gender/sexuality", this I an image which I consider non-narrative.

Cynthia Ona Innis

Toucher

Ink and acrylic on Yupo paper

2013

12 " x  10 "

Figuration in the eyes of the viewer is necessary for almost any narrative. A story needs a subject. However, both abstract and figure art can be non-narrative. Both narrative and non-narrative art include borders, space, color or shade, and shape. We don't have to draw a line because both terms were made up to help us define two opposite sides of a very grey spectrum. Some of the most successful pieces are those in which some find narrative, and others do not.

Continued:

All narrations are figuration.

You cannot tell a story without subjects. If a painting makes you feel sorry for a blob, the blob is a figure.

Figuration can also be non-narrative.

We touched on something in class that seemed mildly absurd. It was two pears. Neither of them were sad. They weren't pregnant and they weren't trying to escape. No matter what everyone came up with, I still could not see any more than a minimum narration in that drawing. It was two freakin pears. I believe the urge to seek narration in conjuction with a readable figure comes through our fear of unfinished business, and our desire to believe we understand more than we do.


By extension, No Abstractions are Narrative.
Therefore, all abstraction is Non-Narrative.

If abstraction can result in narration, than ultimately there is no such thing as non-narration. Our culture likes symbols, so even a color or lack of color can hide a "hidden meaning". But in the end, the closer a piece leans towards abstraction, the farther it drifts from a readable story because it drifts from readable figure. Abstraction is less about conveying an existing story, and more about allowing the invention of a story through feeling.

In class I probably confused some people with my numbers analogy. Sorry. Essentially what I was arguing is that you can't get more than the sum of the parts without recognition of the parts. All figuration is is a recognition of different parts. All narrative is is recognition of something other than the parts that demands to be recognized. Non-narrative art returns nothing more than what is visible.