Aesthetics in erotic painting

Abstract

[MOTIVATION] Throughout history, art and aesthetics have been a fundamental part of human life. Our ancestors carved their life stories in caves, and temples, whereas in our postmodern society, individuals have become detached from art and began observing rather than understanding its aesthetic reactions. Art reflects life occurrences, believes and fantasies. This study will tackle the following questions: To which extent can art generate erotic fantasies and aesthetics on canvas? Which notions and techniques in erotic abstract painting may be used to project, and visualize aesthetics of one’s desires? [OVERALL RESEARCH AIM] The aim of this project – research is to tackle the liaison between erotic fantasies and aesthetics in abstract paintings. Moreover, through my art production I will try to reflect my experience through the production of abstract paintings that might hold erotic meaning or feelings of the artist within me. [RESEARCH FOCUS] The focus of my research demonstrates that erotic arousal can initiate aesthetics, in a sense of pleasantness or unpleasantness, while perceiving an erotic artwork. The thesis shows that the aesthetics in paintings are subjective, due to the fact that the viewer holds nostalgic unconscious suppressed emotions. [REASERCH STATEMENT/HYPOTHESIS] My artwork is a way to portray an aesthetic expression that aims at erotic arousal, which revolves around practical techniques and color movements. My paintings may generate erotic and aesthetic pleasure, depending on the unconscious nostalgic emotions of the viewer. [VALUE OF THIS RESEARCH] The value of this research is to encourage artists to investigate and generate aesthetic sensations which are more important than erotic elements simply because they explore human totality. This representation expresses forms of nostalgic sexual fantasies, defined in terms of an intention to create a painting that provides aesthetical valuable experience. The value of an artwork is identical to the value of the aesthetic experienced by the viewer. [REASEARCH METHOD] Based on literature review, a study of erotic signs and how they affect aesthetic in erotic abstract paintings is implemented in my artwork production. I did not inspect the viewers’ reactions to abstract art production, but I approached the erotic art concepts from the perspective of an artist, who embodies the erotic elements with paint on canvas, using specific painting techniques, color movements, and methods. The application of my paintings is mainly to express, and compare my personal experience after studying various artworks throughout the ages; for example Roman, Egyptian, and Indian, up to our post-modern era. Moreover, my artwork was inspired from Jeanette Winterson’s novel Written on the Body. Hence, my contribution encompasses the merging of ancient, modern and post-modern erotic artwork. However, this merging occurs through my implementation of certain color and movement techniques inspired by the previously mentioned eras, in order to emphasize erotic fantasies and aesthetics on canvas. [FINDINGS] This project-research produced a number of key findings based on the following three works: The application of Michael Apter’s “Reversal Theory” which focuses on the subjective projection of erotic fantasies into art. Daniel Berlyne’s “The Aesthetic-Pleasure Arousal Theory” that infers that aesthetics achieved rely on subjective nostalgic thought was utilized throughout the thesis to highlight the pleasant experience achieved by the viewer. The five erotic concepts were the concepts of my paintings exhibited in my virtual art gallery reflected the major erotic concepts of Jeanette Winterson’s novel Written on the Body. They are: The Wholeness and Fragmentation Concept of the Body, The Concept of Sexuality Associated with Penetration, The Fluidity and Permeability concept of the body, The Romantic Conventions of Boundaries, and The Storyteller Ambiguous Gender Concept. [CONCLUSION] The main conclusion of this project-research is that erotic art operates on arousal to generate aesthetics reactions. In addition, those reactions may be pleasant or unpleasant to the viewer while perceiving an erotic artwork, reflecting to his nostalgic unconscious experiences. [RECOMMENDATION] My recommendation for artists is to present their art production with personal projection of their own experience, and let the viewer decode the erotic elements by gazing at the artwork, that might trigger a nostalgic aesthetic reaction.