A

A style that detaches from the representation of reality. Instead of mirroring life, abstract art evokes feelings or concepts using non-representational visual elements such as unconventional shapes, colours, and patterns.
A post-World War II art movement in American painting, marked by free, gestural techniques and a focus on the physical act of painting. Notable artists include Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning.
Without colour. In art, it often refers to blacks, whites, greys, and sometimes browns, capturing images without the presence of hues.
A type of paint comprising pigments suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion. Known for its quick drying properties, acrylic can be applied to various surfaces and, once dry, is resistant to water.
This pertains to the appreciation of beauty or good taste in visual art. It can encompass a set of guiding principles or a particular taste or style favoured by individuals or groups.
A narrative in which characters, objects, or actions represent deeper meanings or concepts. It is intended to convey a message or teach a lesson.
A visual technique that brings static images or models to life, creating the illusion of movement. This is achieved by displaying a rapid sequence of drawings or photographs.
A variant of etching that achieves tonal effects by using powdered resin which, when heated, adheres to the plate, allowing acid to bite around it, producing a granulated effect.
In photography, the aperture refers to the adjustable opening in the lens through which light passes to enter the camera body. It plays a significant role in determining the depth of field and exposure of an image.
A visual style prevalent in the 1920s and 1930s, particularly in design, architecture, and visual arts. It's characterised by its use of geometric shapes, rich colours, and lavish ornamentation.
A style of decorative art, architecture, and design prominent in Europe and the USA from about 1890 until World War I, characterised by intricate linear designs and flowing curves based on natural forms.
A blend of art and activism, where artistic practices are vehicles for social change.
Literally "fore-guard" in French, this term refers to innovative or experimental art. It seeks to challenge, redefine, or push the boundaries of traditional norms and standards.

B

Originating from the ancient Bactria region, spanning parts of today's Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Renowned for its early sculptures, particularly in alabaster, and various composite figures.
Ancient Turkic statues, typically depicting warriors, which were erected as memorial stones, often found in open steppes of Central Asia.
Originating in the 17th century and derived from the Portuguese 'barroco' meaning 'oddly shaped pearl', this European art style is characterised by exaggerated motion, drama, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music.
A sculptural technique where figures or designs slightly protrude from a flat background, offering a subtle three-dimensionality.
An influential modernist art school founded in 1919 in Weimar, Germany. It combined crafts and fine arts and was famous for its approach to design that it publicised and taught.
Artistic practice that uses living organisms as its medium, often intersecting with scientific research.
Describes the unique manner in which an artist uses the brush to apply paint. It can reveal technique, emotion, and style.
Pertaining to the Byzantine Empire, this style is known for its religious iconography, rich colours, and gold backgrounds, most notably seen in mosaics and frescoes in churches.

C

A method of carving, or an object such as an engraved gem, item of jewellery, or vessel made in this manner. It usually features a raised (positive) relief image.
A durable plain-woven fabric, typically made from cotton or linen, stretched across a wooden frame, which artists use as a surface for painting.
The art and science of shaping and baking clay at high temperatures to produce pottery, tiles, figurines, and more. The resulting objects are typically solid and can be decorative, functional, or both.
An Italian term meaning "light-dark". It describes the use of deep contrasts between light and dark areas to give the illusion of volume in modelling three-dimensional objects and figures.
The study of colours and their interactions in art and design.
Derived from the French word 'coller', meaning 'to glue', this is an art form where materials (often paper, but can include fabric, wood, etc.) are adhered to a substrate, creating a new composition.
A printmaking technique where materials are glued to a rigid substrate, such as card or wood. This creates a raised, textured surface which is then inked and printed.
In visual art, composition concerns the arrangement of visual elements within an artwork. It's a structured framework that artists use to organise these elements harmoniously.
A movement where the idea behind the artwork takes precedence over the physical object. Artists like Sol LeWitt were pivotal to this movement.
Describes the outline of an object, capturing its shape rather than details or interior variations. It's akin to drawing the edges of a form without internal details.
In the visual arts, contrast refers to the difference between elements in an artwork. This difference can be in terms of colour, value, texture, or other attributes, making certain elements of an artwork stand out.
Initiated by Picasso and Braque, this avant-garde movement from the early 20th century deconstructs subjects into a multitude of viewpoints using geometric shapes, depicting different facets of an object simultaneously.

D

An art movement of the European avant-garde in the early 20th century. Dadaists expressed their disdain for World War I by embracing chaos and irrationality, often through collages and assemblages.
A decorative art where pictures or designs, often from paper, are glued onto an object and then coated with varnish or lacquer. The result is a smoothly layered piece with a 'painting-like' finish.
A design prepared on special paper for durable transfer onto another surface such as glass, porcelain, or metal.
A term adopted by the Nazi regime in Germany to describe art that did not fit into its traditionalist view. This led to the confiscation and often destruction of many modernist artworks.
Art created or presented using digital technology. It encompasses a wide range of practices, from digital painting to augmented reality artworks.
A piece of art created in two parts. It can be attached together or presented alongside each other.
A printmaking method where an image is incised into a plate with a hard-pointed needle. It produces a characteristic burr and rich, soft lines.

E

A freestanding structure used by artists to support a canvas or paper while painting or drawing. Typically made of wood, easels can be adjustable to accommodate different sizes of canvases.
A painting sized to fit on an easel and intended for private rather than public display, contrasting with wall-sized frescoes or murals.
A painting technique that involves using heated beeswax to which coloured pigments are added. The liquid or paste is then applied to a surface.
A printmaking process in which designs are incised onto a hard, typically flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The incised areas hold ink, which when pressed onto paper, transfer the image.
Similar to engraving, etching is a printmaking technique where lines are etched onto a metal plate using acid. The plate is then inked and pressed onto paper, creating an imprint.
Originating in Germany around 1905, expressionism seeks to present the world from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect to evoke mood or ideas.

F

A modern art movement from the early 20th century that emphasised painterly qualities and strong colour. Led by artists like Matisse, fauvist works are distinguished by rough, spontaneous brushwork and bold, vibrant colours.
Art made in the 1970s and onwards that focuses on the role of women in art history and the broader social context. Artists like Judy Chicago and the Guerrilla Girls were pioneers.
An ancient mural painting technique where alkaline-resistant pigments, mixed with water, are applied directly onto wet plaster. As the plaster dries, the painting becomes an integral part of the wall.
A technique where a drawing is created by placing paper over a textured surface and rubbing it with pencil or other marking tools, capturing the underlying texture.

G

A white mixture of chalk, white pigment, and glue is applied to canvases or wooden panels to prepare them for painting, providing a receptive and stable ground for oils or acrylics.
In painting, it's a thin, translucent layer of colour applied over a base layer. In ceramics, it's a vitreous coating fired onto a ceramic piece for decorative purposes or to make it resistant to moisture.
Prevalent in the High and Late Middle Ages, it's known for its architecture, particularly the Gothic cathedrals, as well as illuminated manuscripts.
A painting method similar to watercolour but yielding more opaque results. It consists of pigment, water, and a binding agent, producing a velvety matte finish when dried.
A gradual change. In visual arts, it often refers to a smooth transition from one colour to another or from one shade of a colour to another.

H

A principle of design, it refers to the way diverse elements are arranged to create a coherent, aesthetically pleasing whole. It provides unity and order in visual composition.
Refers to the dominant wavelength of colour and is the term used to distinguish one colour from another, e.g., red, yellow, blue.

I

The visual images and symbols used in a work of art, as well as the study and interpretation of these themes and symbols.
A dyeing technique used to pattern textiles. In Central Asia, particularly in Uzbekistan, it's known for its vibrant colours and bold, blurred patterns.
A visual depiction used to elucidate or adorn textual information. Often seen in books, magazines, and online media, illustrations can be both artistic and functional.
A painting technique where paint is applied thickly, often with a knife, resulting in visible brush or knife strokes. It can add texture and dimensionality to a painting.
Originating in France in the late 19th century, this movement is characterised by thin brush strokes and an emphasis on capturing light and its transient effects. Notable figures include Monet and Renoir.
Art that's created, assembled, and presented in a space, often immersive in nature, like the works of Yayoi Kusama.
A printmaking technique where the image is incised into a surface. When ink is applied, it fills these incised areas. Paper is then pressed onto the surface, capturing the inked image. Etching and engraving are forms of intaglio.

J

The influence of Japanese art, fashion, and aesthetics on Western culture, especially evident during the 19th century when Japanese goods and art became more available in the West.
The German version of Art Nouveau, most common during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Placing visual elements side by side, often creating contrast, narrative, or highlighting differences and similarities between the elements.
To place two or more things together, especially in order to suggest a link between them or emphasize the contrast.

K

The adjustment of space between individual letters in typesetting. This technique ensures optimal legibility and aesthetics in printed text.
Although more connected to Armenian art, this stone-carved cross-stone shows the intricate interplay of cultures in Central Asia.
An oven or furnace used for hardening and drying clay artwork or for firing ceramics to make them durable.
Art that incorporates movement as a part of its expression, either mechanically or naturally like a mobile that moves with the air.
Sculptures that move, propelled either by motors, air currents, or other mechanisms.
From the Khanate of Kokand, it reflects a blend of local Central Asian and Islamic architectural traditions, evident in palaces, mosques, and mausoleums.
Kazakhstan's traditional art of decorative appliqué often seen in wall hangings and other textiles.
An early calligraphic form of the Arabic script, which can be found inscribed on many Central Asian monuments, ceramics, and textiles.

L

Originated in the 1960s and 1970s, artists like Richard Long used natural landscapes to create site-specific sculptures and installations.
A representation of outdoor natural scenes, which can capture everything from sprawling countryside to urban skylines. Landscapes can be real or imagined and often seek to convey a sense of place.
A system of creating an illusion of depth on a flat surface. All parallel lines in a scene converge at a single point in the horizon, called the vanishing point.
A printmaking technique where a design is carved into a linoleum surface, inked, and then pressed onto paper or fabric. It's a variant of woodcut but uses linoleum due to its ease of carving.
A printmaking technique based on the immiscibility of oil and water. The design is drawn with oil, fat, or wax onto the surface of a smooth, level lithographic limestone plate. The stone is then treated with a mixture of acid and gum arabic, etching the portions of the stone that were not protected by the grease-based image.

M

An Islamic educational institution. In Central Asia, madrassahs are often architecturally significant, with ornate facades, courtyards, and domes.
The art of creating decorative patterns on furniture or works of art using thin veneers of different woods and other materials.
Refers to the material or technique an artist employs to create a piece of artwork, such as oil paint, watercolour, digital design, or sculpture.
A printmaking process that allows for the creation of rich tonal effects by roughening the plate surface and then smoothing specific areas to lighten tones.
Originated in the late 1950s, this art style emphasizes simplicity and objectivity, removing all superfluous elements.
A technique in which a single print is pulled from a glass plate. It's unique because it can only be made once, unlike most printmaking, which allows for multiple originals.
An art form where small pieces of coloured glass, stone, or ceramics (called tesserae) are arranged to create a picture or pattern.

N

A group of Post-Impressionist avant-garde artists in 1890s France who spread the tenets of Symbolism. They believed in the expressive power of pure colour and form.
The space around and between the main subjects or elements in an artwork. This space helps define the boundaries of the subject and can be as significant as the primary elements in defining the artwork's overall composition.
An art and design style heavily influenced by the classical style of ancient Greece and Rome, marked by an emphasis on form, simplicity, proportion, and restrained emotion.
A movement that emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s, characterised by intense subjectivity and rough handling of materials. Artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat were leading figures.
Art that uses new media technologies, including digital art, computer graphics, and virtual art.
A style in Kazakh contemporary art that blends the everyday life of nomads with a touch of idealism, capturing the essence of the vast steppes and traditional life.

O

A medium where pigments are mixed with oil, usually linseed, which serves as both a binder and drying agent. Known for its slow drying time, it allows artists to work with the paint for longer periods and to create a rich, luminous finish.
Short for 'Optical Art', it's a mid-20th-century movement where artists create a sense of movement on the picture surface with optical illusions.
The quality of being opaque. In the arts, it refers to the degree to which something reduces the passage of light. An opaque object or material does not let any light through, making it solid in appearance.
The use of traditional Central Asian motifs and designs, especially in decorative arts and crafts, to imbue a sense of national identity and pride.
Art that's created outside the boundaries of official culture, especially by those without formal training or association with the art establishment.

P

Both the range of colours used by an artist in a particular piece and the physical surface upon which artists mix their paints.
Both an art medium and the artwork itself. Pastels are coloured sticks used to create velvety, soft-hued compositions. They consist of pure powdered pigment and a binder.
A sheen on the surface of an object, usually a green or brown film on the surface of bronze or similar metals, produced by oxidation over a long period. It can also mean the aged appearance that objects acquire over time.
Among the oldest surviving carpets in the world, discovered in the Pazyryk Valley in Siberia but indicative of Central Asian nomadic craftsmanship.
A live presentation by the artist, sometimes controversial, often blurring the line between artist and artwork, like the works of Marina Abramović.
A technique used to depict spatial relationships on a flat surface. It's how artists represent three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional plane in a way that looks natural and realistic.
A movement from the late 1960s and early 1970s where artists aimed to reproduce photographs as closely as possible in paint.
A coloured material that's used in paints or dyes to produce colour. They're often derived from minerals, but can also be synthetic.
A French term meaning "in the open air". It describes the act of painting outdoors to directly capture the light, atmosphere, and ambience of a scene.
A technique of painting developed by Georges Seurat and Paul Signac in which small, distinct dots of pure colour are applied in patterns to form an image.
Originating in the 1950s, artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein drew inspiration from popular and commercial culture, bridging the gap between "high" art and "low" culture.
An artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression are dominant. The aim is often to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person.
A term related to African-American art, focusing on exploring and interpreting the "Black" identity beyond traditional perspectives.
Art that responds to the impact and culture of the internet age, considering how digital technologies influence society and human behaviour.

Q

A type of flat-woven rug or carpet, often without pile, featuring intricate geometric designs that tell stories or depict regional motifs.
A style of painting where architecture is depicted using perspective to give the illusion of three-dimensional space on a flat surface, especially on ceilings.
A writing tool made from a feather, usually a flight feather of a large bird. The pointed end can be split and then sharpened to make a broad nib suitable for writing and drawing.

R

A type of Japanese pottery traditionally used in tea ceremonies. It's fired at low temperatures and removed from the kiln while still hot, then cooled quickly.
It is an art movement that seeks to depict subjects as they are considered to exist in third-person reality, without embellishment or interpretation. It contrasts with idealism and abstract art.
A term coined by curator Nicolas Bourriaud in the 1990s to describe art that focuses on human interactions and social contexts.
A sculptural method where the figures and details are carved or moulded out from a flat background, giving them a raised appearance.
A fervent period of European cultural, artistic, political, and economic "rebirth" following the Middle Ages. In art, it's distinguished by its innovative use of perspective, light, and detailed realism.
An 18th-century artistic movement and style which affected several aspects of the arts including painting, sculpture, and interior design. Rococo is often characterised by ornate decoration, pastel colours, and asymmetry.

S

Samarkand, an ancient city in modern-day Uzbekistan, was known for its distinct blue and white pottery, often decorated with intricate geometric and floral patterns.
An artistic form in which human vices, follies, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals or society into improvement.
A star-themed pattern often seen in Kazakh textiles, symbolising hope and dreams.
A printmaking technique that creates an image by pressing ink through a stencilled mesh screen, including silk.
A three-dimensional work of art made by carving, modelling, casting, or assembling materials. It can be made from clay, stone, metal, glass, wood, and other mediums.
Originating from the Scythians, nomadic tribes who roamed Central Asia, it's best known for intricate goldwork and animal motifs, often found in burial mounds.
An Italian term meaning 'soft' or 'blurred'. It's a painting technique that produces soft transitions between colours and tones, eliminating clear outlines.
The dark shape or outline of someone or something visible in restricted light against a brighter background. In art, it often refers to an image represented as a solid shape of a single colour.
The ancient network of trade routes connecting the East to the West. The exchange along these routes deeply impacted Central Asian art, introducing diverse techniques, materials, and motifs.
A rapid, unrefined drawing capturing the essence of the subject, often used as a preliminary study for more detailed works.
The Sogdians were an ancient Iranian people who thrived in Central Asia, particularly in present-day Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Their art is rich with narrative murals, textiles, and metalworks, often showing influence from Persia, China, and India.
An art form where sound is utilised as the primary medium, intersecting with various disciplines, from music to visual arts.
A technique of creating patterns or shading using small dots or specks. It can be seen in both drawing and painting, as well as in engraving.
A sheet of material, such as paper or metal, perforated with a design which is used to produce the design on an underlying surface by applying pigment through the holes.
A depiction of inanimate objects, often everyday items like fruit, flowers, or vessels, arranged in a meaningful or aesthetic manner.
Art developed in public spaces, often unsanctioned and outside traditional art venues. Banksy is a well-known proponent.
It is an art movement that seeks to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind, often resulting in dream-like, irrational, or bizarre images.

T

A textile art, traditionally woven by hand on a loom, used for decorative wall hangings. It's often intricate and depicts detailed scenes or patterns.
A style of painting that emphasises extreme contrasts of light and dark, creating dramatic spotlight effects.
In visual arts, it refers to the perceived surface quality of a work, such as roughness, smoothness, or softness. It can be actual (felt with touch) or implied (created through the use of visual techniques).
Emerging from the Timurid Empire, which spanned much of Central and South Asia in the 14th to 15th centuries, this style is marked by intricate mosaics, grand domes, and innovative building techniques.
A variation of a colour produced by adding white. It lightens the original hue, contrasting with a shade, which is achieved by adding black.
An art style that emerged in the 1880s, it's characterised by soft, diffused light, and muted tones, often depicting landscapes at dawn or dusk.
A three-panelled artwork where each panel is contiguous to the next, often used in altarpieces in churches. The centre panel is typically the largest, flanked by two narrower related pieces.
A French term meaning "deceive the eye". It's an art technique using realistic imagery to create an optical illusion that the depicted objects exist in three dimensions.
A calligraphic monogram or seal, used by Ottoman sultans, that made its way into various Central Asian artworks, influenced by the vast reach of the Ottoman Empire.
An amulet or pendant, often geometric in design, worn for protection and frequently showcased in traditional jewellery art.
This refers to the amalgamation of Turkish and Mongolian influences, especially evident in the art and architecture from the Mongol-led empires such as the Ilkhanate and Chagatai Khanate.
A wall-hanging made of felt or cloth, embroidered with colourful patterns, sometimes telling stories or depicting important events.

U

A genre of Japanese woodblock prints (and paintings) produced between the 17th and the 20th centuries, featuring themes of landscape, theatre, and pleasure quarters.
A natural brown clay, which, when roasted, becomes a dark brown pigment used in paints.
An initial layer of paint applied to a canvas or board, meant to be painted over in subsequent layers. It provides a general outline and tones upon which layers of more detailed paint are applied.

V

In perspective drawing, it's the point at which parallel lines appear to converge, giving the illusion of depth and distance.
A smooth fine-quality parchment, usually made from calf's skin, used for manuscripts, drawings, or the binding of books.
A digital art technique that creates raster artworks that mimic the visual appearance of vector graphics. It involves using layers and simple pixel tools in image editing software.
Pertaining to the Victorian era (1837-1901), it showcases a wide variety of styles and subjects, reflecting the changing tastes and values of the period.
An art form that uses video technology as a medium. Artists like Nam June Paik were pioneers.
A material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing. It's used to decorate metal, glass, or ceramics.

W

A painting technique where a thin layer of diluted pigment or ink is applied over a broad area. In watercolour painting, a wash creates a transparent or translucent layer.
A painting method in which paints made of pigments suspended in a water-based solution are used. Renowned for its transparency and fluidity, watercolour paper is typically used as a base.
A painting technique in which layers of wet paint are applied to previous layers of wet paint. It's commonly used in watercolour painting.
A type of relief printmaking technique where an image is carved into the surface of a block of wood. The uncarved areas receive ink which then transfers to paper.
Relating to the Works Progress Administration in the U.S., which employed hundreds of artists during the Great Depression to create public art.

X

The art of engraving on wood, especially for the purpose of printmaking.

Y

The technique of printing patterns, particularly on fabric, over large lengths – or yards.
A type of street art that employs colourful displays of knitted or crocheted yarn rather than paint or chalk.
A group of visual artists prominent in the 1990s known for their openness to materials and processes, shock tactics, and entrepreneurial spirit.
A portable, round tent traditionally used by the nomadic tribes in the Central Asian steppes, made with skins or felt on a wooden framework.

Z

A German term meaning 'spirit of the age'. In arts, it refers to the general cultural, intellectual, ethical, and political climate, ambience, or mood of a particular period.
A traditional Russian folk handicraft of painting on metal trays, which began in the village of Zhostovo in the 19th century. They are vibrant, hand-painted floral designs on a black background.

Art Terms

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