The Importance of Context
It is impossible to understand our world (and ourselves in it) without looking at it in context. Context provides us with the information we require to operate successfully in our everyday lives. It is so intertwined within our lives that it dictates every decision we make; in other words, we cannot escape it.
We perceive our world within the context of who we are and our personal histories. As humans, we belong to different communities, which become part of our identities. For example, I’m a white man, I’m gay, a parent, I have an advanced degree, I was born in a foreign country, etc. I belong to different groups that define who I am as a whole. Each one of these groups share a history and a set of values and beliefs that affect how we perceive our environment and lead us to make decisions. And these values and beliefs set the ground for a context against which we analyze our world as a group. In my practice, these social, cultural, and historical codes are more often than not defined by a group’s visual culture.
Knowing this, it is not surprising that context is paramount for our connection to art. I would even venture to say that art is devoid of meaning unless appreciated within its surrounding context. The only way to truly engage with a work of art is by asking questions. Inevitably, the answers to all these questions can be found in the context of the work: the moment in history in which it was created, the artist’s personal story, even the context in which the art is displayed; a myriad of information readily available that awaits to be discovered by asking questions. This is how we understand and connect to art.
It is clear then that art can be analyzed against both its physical and intangible contexts. Examples include how the art is displayed, the color and composition of the work, or the wall on which it hangs are examples of the physical context. The perceived value of a work of art is intimately related to how it’s framed, and where it’s hanging.
Examples of the intangible context are the moment in history that it was created, the reason for its creation, the artist’s personal story, etc. The research shows that we engage with art as objects with cognitive value. Essentially, art is communication—we expect to gain an understanding of the work based on the context of its existence.
When viewing a work of art, the information is there as part of the context, waiting to be discovered. A thorough look at the context in which an artwork is presented can help us connect with the work. As I mentioned earlier, the groups that form some parts of our identity share a set of values and beliefs that are specific to the group. Paying attention to these values and beliefs can help us foresee the way a work of art will be perceived, and inform the context under which the work must be presented to have the desired effect. Thus, an understanding of the context can help us understand the work.