Titles, are they important?

Looking at Art:

People looking at art, particularly art which does not replicate reality, are likely to look at the title to give them a clue as to its meaning. I believe that many viewers of art think titles can give them insight into the artist’s intention and rely on the name to decode what may otherwise seem like a mystery. Knowing the title of art can also reinforce a person’s opinion, suggesting they have the correct interpretation of the work. Artists, on the other hand, often have a very different view of titles and this might explain why so many abstract pieces are called “Untitled”. The maker of the art may not want to nail it down to one interpretation. They may want the ambiguity of the piece to allow the viewer to complete the work by coming up with their own explanation of its meaning. Perhaps by not naming a work of art the artist is validating the audience’s response to it. What do titles mean to you?

Work in the Studio:

I like titles. If art is communication, a title can clarify the message. The name can extend the meaning of a piece and might direct a viewer to consider an idea they had not thought about. The title can be indispensable, illuminating the significance of a work.

My abstract sculpture can be difficult to name. I often work with form and shape, independent from representation of real objects. My goal may be grace, motion or strength, for example.The original intention, for the sculpture seen here, was to begin at the bottom with straight shapes and have them morph into curves at the top. The piece had other ideas. It suggested a torso and seemed to demand a head. It called to mind those wonderful prehistoric Cycladic figures carved with shield-like faces. The simple head on this sculpture suggested its title.

Neocycladic Figure, View one and two, Ceramic Sculpture, 12” x 8” x 7”