Structural painting introduces a new way of interacting with art, which crosses the traditional boundaries of visuality and presents the viewer with a unique perceptual challenge. Contemplating such painting requires the viewer not only to look carefully, but also to feel the space, textures and material complexity that create the work. Structural painting is a form of art that works not only through colour and form, but also through the physical presence of the materials that build the image – from the roughness of the canvas to the smoothness of the applied layers of paint and three-dimensional elements.
Sensual perception of structure by Artur Lam
The basis for contemplating structural painting is a multi-sensory approach to perceiving the work. A viewer who is accustomed to the linear, flat form of images is faced with textures, convexities and irregular surfaces that demand not only visual analysis, but also kinesthetic imagination. Although physical touch is not always possible, the very presence of structural layers stimulates the sense of touch in an indirect way. Imagining how a particular structure might feel under your fingers, how the surface might reflect light or refract, becomes part of a contemplative act.
The Dynamics of Light and Shadow
Structural painting, with its layers and textures, introduces an extremely important element to the work – the dynamics of light and shadow. The uneven, three-dimensional surfaces of the painting reflect light in different ways, depending on the angle of the rays. Contemplating this type of work is a constant discovery of new aspects of the composition, which change depending on the lighting. From this perspective, structural painting becomes an engaging process of discovery – every movement of light, every changed point of view reveals new details that might be overlooked in traditional painting.
