When I first started working with mulberry paper, I made the conscious decision to number the finished pieces rather than giving them titles. I wanted to let viewers reach their own conclusions about the artwork in front of them. It is “abstract expressionism” after all – interpretations abound!

I revel in the joyful nature of the Joomchi process and hope others feel that in the work. Sometimes a name  comes to me while working, but my first priority is always to distribute the colors and form the shapes and textures in a way that matches what is in my head. Besides, I enjoy hearing the firsthand interpretations of viewers, whether at an opening or visiting Studio 126. In the past I’ve felt that having a title on the piece may have biased their thoughts in some subconscious way.

Jun Kaneko, an artist I highly respect, does not title his artwork. (That’s me standing beside one of his ceramic sculptures in the photo above.) Jackson Pollack is another artist who felt very strongly about not titling his finished pieces.

“Autumn Arrival” 45 ½” x 39” $2780

That said, recently I’ve had a change of heart. I’ve come to agree with many others that naming artwork can actually be beneficial to viewers. Providing a title can help ground the work, open new meanings and lead viewers down the path to finding their own interpretations. The hope is that they become more emotionally involved and connect in a way that can otherwise be challenging with abstract art.

Please see the artwork on the left. For me it is a great feast of color, shapes, texture and surface interest. I feel anyone can stay in front of this piece for quite a while to study all it has to offer. When it was first displayed, I was surprised that almost everyone who saw it described it as “falling leaves.” Hence, now the title of this artwork is “Autumn Arrival.” It fits well.

I’m interested to know your thoughts on this subject and which side of the title/no title debate you’re on!