Andrea Kowch Studio Blog

"The Guests" - Allegory of the Five Senses SOLD
40" x 30" Acrylic on canvas

Completed this past June, this painting is an addition to my current series of works that symbolically fuse various ideas and subject matter, and is one of my many pieces that serve as a representation of my interest in symbolism. With this particular painting, my aim was to take different subject matter and juxtapose it all in a way that ultimately created a metaphor for the five senses. The task of picking and choosing various elements to put in a painting, and then the challenge of taking those elements and using them in a way that creates a cohesive and believable situation, is an imperative part of my message-making process.

This painting is a further exploration of my goal to create images that speak of various issues without being too overt, because I believe that art has to allow room for viewer interpretation. Many of the visual stories I create are left open-ended, because I wish to encourage interaction from the viewer. Thus, while my works are created with an initial idea behind them, I make sure I execute them in such a way that leaves room for viewers to form their own stories and conclusions. The Guests, I feel, is a good example of the things I consider when working on a piece – though it is, in essence, my own interpretation of the five senses, to another it may be a story about something else, despite the fact that the main idea will always be present.