A work of art is not a fixed object waiting to be accepted by the viewer, but a living entity that is constantly reinterpreted and creates new meanings in the context of its creator and its time and culture.
Instead of saying that we appreciate a work of art, we often say that we enjoy it, or that we appreciate it. To enjoy or appreciate a work of art means to derive pleasure from it or to value it, which implies that the work of art is something that awaits acceptance by the viewer, the subject of the appreciation, and that it is a fixed object whose value is to be measured. However, a work of art does not have a fixed value or await acceptance by the viewer.
A work of art is created in relationship to its creator, the time in which it was created, and its cultural environment, which includes social norms, artistic traditions, and the artist’s personality. But none of these things can determine the meaning of a work of art. They are transformed by the creator as they are organized into a text, and they exist only as a background, as a system of reference.
The meaning of a work of art is interpreted by the viewer who encounters it at a particular moment in history. But in order to interpret meaning, there must be a frame of reference. Without a frame of reference, interpretation would be subjective to the viewer’s understanding. The frame of reference is the frame of interpretation. The frame of reference at the historical moment when the viewer encounters the artwork creates new relationships that are different from the past, and the viewer produces new meanings from the artwork based on these new relationships.
Therefore, as long as a work of art continues to be transmitted, it is constantly changing through new frames of reference and taking on new meanings. In essence, a work of art has infinite meanings. This is like saying, “Shakespeare didn’t say it all.” When we say “Shakespeare didn’t say it all,” we don’t mean that the meaning comes from the work of art itself. The meaning of a work of art is derived from the infinity of referential systems that exist outside of it. The text is constantly seeking new readers and acquiring new systems of reference from them, constantly forming new relationships and producing new meanings.
The process of appreciation is a dialog between subject and object. In the process of appreciation, the work of art and the viewer are like two individuals with different perspectives and personalities, asking and answering questions and correcting each other’s perspectives. Rather than trying to bring the other into one’s own worldview, they move toward truth through dialog. The viewer does not gain the truth that exists within the work of art, but rather creates new truths by engaging with the work of art through dialogic appreciation. Instead of using the work of art as an example of one’s own preconceived understanding, the viewer gains a new perspective by transcending, enlarging, and transforming it through an external work of art. In doing so, the work of art also transcends its own meaning through the viewer, who is different from itself.
Appreciation is a two-way process of aesthetic experience in which both the viewer and the artwork are transcended. The work of art is open to the viewer, and the viewer is open to the work of art. This process of opening and communication negates the fixed meaning of the artwork and opens up the possibility of new meanings that are created by the viewer’s interpretation. This shows that a work of art has the potential to be constantly reinvented, beyond a fixed meaning or value, and to be constantly rediscovered through different interpretations.
This interaction between artwork and viewer goes beyond mere appreciation and shows how artworks can be newly understood and reinterpreted in their social and cultural context. A work of art constantly creates new meanings within the cultural and historical context of its time, and the viewer expands his or her understanding and perspective through it. This process ensures the continued vitality of a work of art and helps viewers gain new insights and realizations from it.
In conclusion, the meaning of a work of art is not fixed and can change infinitely depending on the viewer’s interpretation and understanding. The viewer creates new meaning through dialog with the artwork, and the artwork is constantly reinvented through this communication with the viewer. This shows the true value of a work of art and confirms its infinite possibilities.
