ARCN2106: INTRO TO MULTIMEDIA
INSTRUCTOR: ADRIANA ROSS
Colour can convey a message or idea beyond the easily visible art form. When colour is used, there are implied meanings behind them, and our personal identity imposes itself onto our understanding of colour. In North America, red is often associated with anger or passion and black is associated with death, whereas in other places this is not the case. When we are observing something that uses colour, we are not neutral parties. There is an imposition of belief and culture. One’s experiential bias provokes understandings of colour that are truly specific to the individual. The psychology of colour in art ultimately dictates our aesthetic preferences.
In addition to cultural understanding, language plays a large role in understanding colour as well. The number of basic colour categories varies from language to language and as a result, the way we describe colour is different1 . The basis of language as communication when discussing art plays a pivotal role in our perception of the piece.
I tend to favor art that uses neutral, monochromatic colours, or none at all. I view colour as something that should be used sparingly since it is a powerful tool. In my personal work, I find colour very intimidating and it is difficult for me to integrate into pieces.
