Abstract Realism

Abstract Realism is the infusion of  the elements of design with the depiction of  real life in visual art.

 

Abstract Realism is an art movement that is not easily defined because it is a marriage of two contradictory terms, Abstract art and Realistic art. Abstract art has no reference to real objects. The abstract artist uses lines, shapes, colours, texture and pattern to create a rhythm. They will look for balance colour value and sizes of shapes and lines. Their focus is on the elements and principals of design to give a visual sensory impression of feelings, thoughts or experiences. Realism attempts to capture real life moments in time, an image and the personality of individuals or objects who resemble real life.

The Marriage between Abstract and Realism

After the invention of the camera artists moved away from realism and experimented with depicting feelings and concepts in their works. Those first playful and emotional experiments were called Expressionism and Impressionism. Artists infused their thoughts, feelings, emotions and inner thoughts into their paintings of real life objects. This was the birth of the current term Abstract Realism. The idea of infusing design elements while referring to the real world has grown and evolved throughout the history of visual art and has founded many different movements.

Abstract Realism
There was no longer a need for an artist to capture the image of a beloved person or the history of the time. The photographer was taking over that market and also inspiring the creative and innovative 19th century artist. Photographers are no longer just interested in just capturing a moment in time, they want to emote and inspire. Their choice of compositional angles and the editing process creates a new image or piece of art out of the real life image, abstracting reality.