Ambiguity

… in the sense of a more general state of uncertainty.

Not all situations have clear-cut answers. Most don’t. And it has been, historically, very easy for me to get hung up here. To feel paralyzed with indecision or riddled with self-doubt. And this uncomfortable feeling, this theme, has shown up repeatedly in my creative work.

The Ambiguity Effect: a cognitive bias that compels us to avoid choices where the outcome is uncertain. This tendency is fueled by a complex interplay of factors, from our innate desire for control and fear of loss to our comfort with the familiar to overconfidence in personal judgements.

Anything we can do to counter this, to build our tolerance for ambiguity, can help in creative problem solving. It can help expand our capacity to consider the full range of options available for any given problem. Also, it can help with accepting uncertainty, holding paradox, and recognizing creative potential. It can encourage us to stay open and compassionate with ourselves and others.

How Art Can Help

“Art provides a safe space outside of ourselves to analyze our observations and convert those observable details into actionable knowledge.” -Amy Herman

Discussing art and deciphering possible meaning is one way to increase our tolerance for ambiguity. The primary task is being present and paying attention.

“When you pay attention to a thought, emotion, or perception, your brain activity increases. Your conscious life effectively becomes what you pay attention to. And curiosity is an emotional state you can strengthen with practice.” -Magsamen and Ross, Your Brain on Art

Adapted from an article on navigating ambiguity from an organizational psychology perspective, a structured approach to viewing works of art can serve as a guide. This approach includes first deeply understanding the current state. Pay attention to details, and particularly the ones that really stand out to you. Pay attention to the context, the larger impressions. Give yourself permission to ask questions. Consider what feelings arise within you. The next step involves articulating insights and opportunities that present themselves through this exploration. What connections can be made? What do you think or how do you feel about those connections?

Image Dialogue

After creating this image, I asked my daughter what she saw or what questions, if any, arise when looking at this. This is what she said:

It’s like a mirror dimension. There is one world, and another world almost exactly like it but just a bit different. The girls are crossing paths, leaving one dimension to go into the other. The one on the right is confused, this new world is blurry. The one on the left is relieved to be in a world that is more clear. 

After hearing her perspective, I shared mine: I created the second road using a prism. Right away I thought of internal conflict between options, generally, and more specifically, one option already established and the other self created. After adding the portraits I see the girl on the left is static, lacks clarity of vision in this path. In the path that I created, she is in motion. Her vision is more clear here though the path is not as predictable.

And it is so cool to see all the things we bring to viewing artwork from our unique set of experiences. It is also clear to me the value in sharing our unique perspectives surrounding how we see art with others. It is a practice in self-expression of thoughts and ideas, exposure to alternative perspectives and an opportunity to explore and understand how someone else might feel.