The universality of love and suffering: an examination into the interpretation of biographical art of the 20th century

In the studio, I often think about the matter of art interpretation. How does it work? Why does it matter? And beyond that, when working from biography: how can the artist make their work relevant to the viewer? Can the personal experience of the artist become a shared one? And does the interpretation of the art suffer if all personal details are revealed? Ultimately, if the motivation of the work is personal, does the work manage to connect on an intimate and universal level with the audience? [...] I realise that while my inspiration often comes from personal experience, my motivation has more to do with the universal experience of the human condition. Through my paintings, I attempt to translate internal feelings and present them externally, while meditating on more universal emotional themes of experience such as anxiety, pressure, loss and regret. The examination will begin with the role of symbolism and iconography in art interpretation; looking at the associations of certain materials and symbols. Naturally, given the interest in the biographical artist, I will sometimes include a brief artist biography of the artists in question - as their life experience influences their work so fully. I will also be looking at the positive and cathartic nature of biographical artwork; exploring the physiological benefits within this process of creation. Finally, I will focus on the universal language of materiality and how it can convey and carry personal meaning as well as the mood of both the artist in the studio, alongside as the subject matter itself. Here, I intend to better understand the way biographical art can be interpreted on a personal and ultimately universal level.