An Article by A. V. (807 words, 4 min. read)
Mark Rothko’s famous quote,“A painting is not a picture of an experience; it is the experience,” encapsulates the very essence of his approach to art. For Rothko, painting was not just about depicting something; it was about conveying an emotional and sensory experience. His large-scale, abstract works, characterized by luminous fields of color, were meant to engage the viewer in a direct, visceral way, allowing the painting itself to become the experience rather than a mere representation of one.
The Live Experience: Dynamic and Ephemeral
When we talk about the experience of live events versus the experience of art through painting, the two share similarities, yet they differ significantly in how they engage the audience. A live performance, whether in theater, music, or dance, is an ephemeral experience that unfolds in real time. The audience’s engagement with the performance is dynamic and collaborative; the atmosphere, the emotions of the performers, and the energy of the crowd all combine to create a singular moment that can never be fully replicated. For instance, a live concert’s impact on an audience is shaped by the acoustics, the energy of the performers, and the collective response of the crowd. The experience is fleeting, immediate, and transformative, often lingering in memory long after the event has ended.
The Painting Experience: Introspection and Emotional Engagement
In contrast, the experience of painting, especially the kind of abstract work that Rothko championed, is a more introspective, personal encounter. Rothko’s color fields—his blocks of intense, layered hues—invite the viewer to experience them on a deeply emotional level. Unlike live events that unfold in real-time, a painting offers a timeless engagement with the viewer. Rothko’s large canvases, such as No. 61 (Rust and Blue) or Orange, Red, Yellow, are meant to be experienced from a distance and up close, allowing the viewer to absorb the emotional content through subtle changes in light, color, and texture. The way these colors seem to vibrate and shift before the eyes creates a sensory experience that is more introspective, encouraging quiet contemplation rather than active participation.
Rothko’s Emotional Engagement: Art as Feeling
What sets Rothko’s art apart is its invitation to experience raw emotion without the need for a narrative or subject matter. His works were designed to evoke feelings; sometimes of serenity, other times of profound sadness or anxiety. Rothko himself said, “I’m not interested in the relationship of color or form or anything else. I’m interested only in expressing basic human emotions: tragedy, ecstasy, doom, and so on.” His paintings, in their simplicity and boldness, strip away the external world to reveal the inner world of feeling. For Rothko, color was not just a visual element, but a conduit for emotional expression. The viewer is invited not to interpret or understand the painting intellectually, but to feel it in their body, to experience it viscerally.
The Immersive Nature of Painting in Contrast to Live Events
The experience of art through Rothko’s paintings is similar to a live performance in that it exists in the moment, but unlike a live event, the painting provides an intimate, internal dialogue between the artwork and the viewer. This interaction doesn’t require the performative energy of an event, it is rather self-contained within the painting itself. The colors seem to hum with emotion, creating a space where the viewer can lose themselves, much like a live performance might envelop its audience. However, a painting like Rothko’s offers a unique permanence, a chance to return to the experience again and again, each time with the potential for new insights or feelings.
Comparing Art Forms: The Relationship Between Painting and Other Mediums
In comparison to other forms of art, Rothko’s paintings create an experience that transcends the visual. For instance, the cinematic experience, like watching Schindler’s List, can create powerful emotions, but these are often shaped by a narrative structure, dialogue, and acting. Similarly, live theater or concerts rely on performers and audience interaction, an exchange that cannot be recreated in the same way. Rothko, however, allows for a deeply personal experience that asks the viewer to participate emotionally without the aid of narrative or performance.
Art as an Experience Beyond Time
Ultimately, Rothko’s view on painting challenges us to rethink what art can do. A painting like his is not merely a static object to observe; it is an experience in itself, inviting the viewer to step into the emotional space the artist has created. It is an experience that is both personal and universal, transcending time and place. Just as a live event can move and transform its audience in real-time, Rothko’s art moves the viewer emotionally, even if that transformation happens slowly, over time, and in the privacy of the viewer’s mind.
