Art appreciation

Scientists have developed a new model that is able to measure a person’s appreciation of art.

The model, dubbed “psycho-historical framework for the science of art appreciation”, looks at how people explain their psychological response to art, given external factors like an artist’s intentions, the history of the art piece and the aesthetic of it.

The model was jointly created by Nicolas Bullot, from Australia’s Macquarie University and Rolf Reber, from the University of Bergen, Norway.

It could be employed by developers in Docklands to ascertain the community’s response to the artworks that they intend to install publically – or have installed in the past – such as Cow up a Tree.

As stated in Docklands News last month: “Places Victoria requires Docklands developers to spend one per cent of the value of their developments on public art contributions.”

The model hopefully will enlighten scientists as to what people appreciate about art.  

David Sibenaler