THE FASCINATION OF ART

"Fascination is a neurological state of intense focus, one that creates an irresistible feeling of engagement. It’s almost the same as falling in love. When you’re fascinated, you’re in the moment.... Emotionally, you experience fascination as a feeling of confidence and clarity." Definition from the Internet Why do we view art? In life, we search for meaning. In art, it’s the same. Confronted with something we may never have seen before arouses curiosity, a sense of wonder, a need to understand, to be informed. We look closer. The artist is speaking to us. What is the message? My interest is not only in the art itself, but in the interaction between visitors and the artworks. This can produce playful compositions as viewers wrestle with meaning, display astonishment, surprise, delight, disinterest, confusion, puzzlement, even jostling through crowds for close-up inspection, or enviably being alone with a work. In selfies we solidify our experiences. We go home with a postcard, a catalogue, the satisfaction of having brushed against something profound. All the images were photographed in art museums in The Netherlands.