Writing with the senses

Friday 4th October – Looking at art (study visit)

Visiting the space made me think about what it means to look. The tutor explained that as a viewer we look at objects and interpret the meanings/ uses of these but as designers and creators they supply a meaning and want the views/ us to think what they think/ feel within that moment or their journey. So looking is all about getting the balance of supply and interpretation right.

Linking this theory to Graphic Communication we design for instance a poster – a highly visual thing that ‘supplies’ information to that viewer. Although interpretation is limited the viewer can always think differently to another. Thus concluding this theory with looking is never pure.

When in the space I was drawn to one piece which my first ‘interpretation’ was that this hole in the ground with a small almost reddy, orange and yellow shiny almost glass like blob is an inverted volcano. However, once knowing the title of the piece I was shocked to find that the name was Portal. And one of the students sniffed the central mass clarifying the central mass was in fact jelly. Through using all her senses she was able to get a better interpretation than I was from just looking. This shows that looking isn’t just a visual thing, much like the name of the constellation looking is about all the senses. But the question I ask is the 6th sense the others around us and is the 6th the supply?