Men and women see paintings in different ways. That is what scientists say after studying the Neurobiology of art appreciation. A Daily Telegraph article says that while admiring a beautiful picture, neurons on both sides of the brain are stimulated in women wheras only those in the right hemisphere are activated in men. Men and women make spatial judgements in different ways according to researchers. Men have more of a co-ordinate spatial awareness (using co-ordinates to map an object's position in space) which involves the right side of the brain. Hunting, traditionally done by men require a co-ordinating ability to track animals. The left side of the brain is more involved in 'categorical' spacial awareness (involving broad categories like 'above' below' etc). This kind of spatial awareness was best suited for gathering fruits and roots, a job mainly carried out by women. The different ways in which men an women map the world influence their perception of beauty. In my view rather than the scientific precision in the distances and depth portrayed, the general and categorical awareness is more important at least in the appreciation of art if not in the production. So I consider asking the opinion of my wife important before declaring a painting finished.
Shown along is my latest landscape painting. For more details visit
www.seekpaintings.com
