Experiencing Art: The Familiar versus the Unexpected

In the article “Doing Science Making Art”, Conway states, “it is a curious feature of our perceptual cognitive apparatus that insight into the artists’ strategies, whether gained through art or science, does not seem to diminish the power of the effects.” Conway argues that the “insight” enriches the scientific or artistic appreciation. He compares this concept to how having an understanding of the wine-making process enhances the experience of wine tasting. This concept is slightly paradoxical in that, while they are surely differing forms of pleasure, humans gain visual pleasure from both the familiar and the unexpected. Reading this made me ponder the difference between the appreciation that one holds for a piece of art never seen before versus that which one holds for a familiar work seen countless times. Seeing a great piece of art for the first time- or reading a book or poem for the first time, for that matter- can be a truly unique experience.  Yet, one constantly returns to familiar pieces of work, whether they are paintings, books, songs etc. Sometimes when returning to that piece a familiar feeling or understanding returns. Other times, with a new viewing or listening, one can take away something new from the piece of work. In either situation, the piece of work becomes more than the physical item itself, it gains metaphorical value. To consider the subjectivity of art, and the idea that art is open to interpretation, further complexes this concept. The fact that one experiences art subjectively makes it so that even if a group of people experience the same piece of work- even if it is at the same time and in the same context- they will each have their own unique experience.