Abstract or Representational?

What are the essential differences between representational and abstract art/photography?

There are a few essential differences between abstract and representational photography/art. But it is also based on personal preferences as the viewer may see one image as abstract, whereas to another viewer, the image could be seen as representational.

With an abstract image there is a key thing of there being no set image. It can also contain bright colours or dark colours with no set order or style. Simply painted onto the canvas.

In photography, an abstract piece of work could have many sharp lines or curves, creating an image out of shapes or shadows with no meaning to it. There are different pieces of work which are classed as abstract photos.

For representational images, there needs to be form and shape of the image. There needs to be a subject which you can focus on, which gives it meaning.

Representational pieces of artwork could be something like a still painting, like the Mona Lisa, or it could be a still photograph of something which is representational to certain people.

There are images which borderlines both of these differences which means that it's to the personal preference of the person who is viewing the photo to decide whether to them, the image/artwork is representational or abstract.

 

Noel Fielding working on one of his images which can class as and abstract piece of artwork or an representational image.

 

What might Abstract photographs be good for?

 

In my personal opinion, I'd put abstract images or artwork pieces on display in my home. I'd display the image on the wall of a room which is regularly visited because it would capture the attention of the visitors.

 

Abstract photographs would also be good to create another abstract image, if you use the right style of images in the right placement.

Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima

Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima

The image itself is of five United States Marines and a U.S Navy Corpsman raising the flag of the United States a top Mount Suribachi during the battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. (During the Second World War.)

My opinion on this image is that it represents many things in the eyes of different people. For American's, it may give them a sense of pride, whereas for myself, I don't feel any emotion towards the image. In my opinion, it represents the teamwork which was used to pull the flag up, as well as unity because it's a mixture of American Soldiers who managed to get the flag up. But apart from that, I feel no emotional attachment to this picture, despite how famous it became in the year that it was printed.

Wassily Kandinsky - Interior (My Dining Room)

 Wassily Kandinsky - Interior (My Dining Room)

The colour used in Kandinsky's work is bright. It points out the key parts of the image which tells you that it's a dining room. The lines that are used add to the fact that it's not meant to be a perfect painting. It's different from what you'd think if you were simply told the title of the image. It moulds into the texture as it gives off a clear vibe that it's an abstract piece of artwork. The bright colours and the visible strokes of the brush pinpoint different uses of texture. Some where it's in lines and others when it's simply dots. How I see the painting, there isn't a focal point because the image is bright and filled with different things which each could be the pinpoint. But to go with the name of the image, I'd say that the focal point of the image would either be the fruit bowl or the dining table. The form and shape which are used pinpoint the objects which create the image. I.e the table and chair which he's created he's made it clear of the image which he's trying to create. This is one of his earlier pieces of work as he started off with landscaping before moving onto complete abstract art.
In my opinion, it's a colourful piece which catches my eye, and it's different to something that I'd look for. But I wouldn't willingly have this painting in my possession as there is too much going on and I feel that after a while, it would become overwhelming.