1000 words about the true work of the artist.

The two ways of knowing: the right and left hemispheres of the brain
by David Genovesi director ARTROM Gallery Rome Italy
http://www.artromgallery.com/ info@davidgenovesi.com

When we visually perceive an object, the left hemisphere of our brain is immediately engaged and activated. This rational, logical, analytical side of our brain is automatically set into motion and does what it does best. It neatly categorizes that object with a name that is chosen from a stored semantic memory bank. It names and categorizes whatever it perceives, using the words it has accumulated and then moves on to other objects and names and categorizes them. It does this incessantly. Once the object is named and labelled we think we “understand” it.

This memory bank or “big bag of words” is full of the words we have learned in our lives; words that have been defined for us, by our parents, our teachers, our experience; all the words and their predetermined definitions that we have been taught to believe in; including all our prejudices, preconceptions and prejudgements; all kinds of stuff that we picked up along the way - who we think we are - what we think other people think of us - who we think our enemies are - what we think we like and don’t like - etc.

In a society that always requires rational, linear thought and actions, this left hemisphere way of knowing is, of course very useful but it is a very superficial understanding of phenomena. It’s based on associations from the past and views life only as a matter of establishing and sustaining certain fixed positions. We’ve been trained and conditioned to trust this way of knowing, above what is truly in our hearts. We consider this way of knowing to be the truth and jealously protect what we have accumulated. This automatic process happens also when viewing a painting or any other work of art. The left hemisphere will process the visual stimulus with words and categories, such as: “landscape” or “apples on a table” and rarely goes beyond this. It will filter all it perceives and easily dismiss anything which it does not understand or cannot easily categorize with words;

In an abstract painting or sculpture, when no specific objects are represented, the viewer’s linear left hemisphere of the brain can’t effectively do its job and isn’t immediately gratified. With no recognizable object to conveniently label with a word, the mind of the viewer is potentially free to shift to the right hemisphere of the brain, another, different way of processing information.

The right side of the brain is the imaginative, non-verbal, non-judgemental, mystical half. This is where a whole universe of non-verbal associations and meanings, textures, and vibrations can be explored freely without judgement; to absorb and process with an immediacy that comes from our hearts, from our essential beings. The right side is the intuitive, insightful, creative mode of knowing, which allows us to visualize in “the free-floating realm of the gods”. It can interpret what it perceives without the distraction of words.
But it's constantly interrupted by the ever-present, ever-vigilant left hemisphere mode of thinking which is always there, ready to intervene with a constant barrage of words of judgement and opinion and warning. It labels the artwork “ large abstract painting” and files it away.

This left hemisphere mode of knowing short circuits and dismisses the possibility of any deeper realizations. The left hemisphere has a mission to protect us, for fear that we may stray into unknown areas of our psyche, possibly shake some of the foundations of our unique belief system and conflict with our pre-conceptions. The left hemisphere fears that this may lead to an inner growth, which could be unsettling to the status quo. Words are its weapons to keep everything in order.

This continuous conflict between the two ways of knowing (the left and the right) maintains inner tension within us. This inner conflict between our two ways of knowing is what I feel is largely responsible for our outer conflicts. We need to also listen to our hearts and have the courage and humility to let go of the excess, accumulated baggage that we use to define ourselves to the outside world. We all just habitually dip into the sack and pull out the pre-packaged response for any situation. All these pre-learned verbal associations, that we are attached to and carry around with us, separate us from others and also from our true- selves. Our true-selves are there, waiting in the wings for an opportunity for expression.

We all need to occasionally go through the closet and eliminate the stuff that we know doesn’t fit anymore. To eliminate some of the weight that holds us back. To free ourselves of false beliefs that keep us from our true center. To discard these deceptive convictions that we hold onto so jealously.

The challenge for the artist is to find a way through the smoke screen of the left hemisphere and arrive at much riper fields beyond. This is asking a lot in a world that is inundated with images from so many sources. Very often the images are loud, powerful and shocking. TV news, MTV, advertising and internet offer a never-ending stream of images which engage the left brain and force it quickly on to the next image and the next.

Visual artists need to see their work as art objects unto themselves, but also as tools or instruments that stimulate inner visualizations and reach beyond mere categories;
by accessing the right hemisphere of the viewer and ignite some flame about the possibilities of art;
by enticing the observer to suspend, at least momentarily, a need to “understand”,
to allow for a more symmetrical and equilibrated use of the two hemispheres of our brain;
by transmitting a message that activates and opens associations and meanings that reach within the soul, without words, beyond category.
This is the true work of the Artist.