Abstract.. What does it mean?

"Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. "

Source: Wikipedia

Why am I looking at this suddenly?

The reason is the photograph below:

Lines at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi

This was one of the 5 photographs I sent as an entry to Nicephoto 2011- An amateur photography competition and exhibition. This is one of the most weird photography competitions I've participated. It had 12 categories to participate including ones like 'Others' and 'Can't Decide'. I'm still not able to figure out the idea behind those categories.

Lets get back to that photograph. This photograph was uploaded in the Abstract category, though I didn't have much of an idea about what abstract was all about. Because these lines and the vivid colour made no sense to me other than just being an interesting visual composition, maybe that is why I chose it to be in this category.

It was only when this photograph got selected for the exhibition, I wondered.

Only then did I start looking deeper into the photograph... because for a person like me, who has just been playing with the camera all along, it started feeling like 'think its time for some serious business'.

So, I wanted  to figure out what is the basic idea of abstract is, as the whole study about it will not be feasible by me.

Then as usual, I google to try understand what exactly is ' Abstract'.

Kazimir Malevich, Black Square, c. 1913

This is the first image that comes up in Wikipedia.

As usual it made no sense at the first look, though it seems like making a strong and bold statement. But as one reads about it, it has been the turning point in the development of Russian avant-garde.
It has lead to the creation of a of a new movement in Russian painting - Suprematism.

"Artwork which takes liberties, altering for instance color and form in ways that are conspicuous, can be said to be partially abstract. Total abstraction bears no trace of any reference to anything recognizable."- Wikipedia

Thus keeping in mind the basic idea of abstract art, I try relating it to photography.

Now as I look into abstract photography, I find this article by Ron Bigelow, a website where one can find free tutorials,  videos and articles on photography.This extract is from his article on abstract photography.

" There is no standard, universally accepted definition of abstract photography. Actually, it is not easy to create a clear-cut definition of an abstract concept. Thus, for this article series, abstract photography will be defined as photography that:

• Does not represent the subject in a literal way.
• Communicates primarily through form, color, and curves rather than image detail.

There are three essentials to abstract photography: form, color, and curves. It is paramount that an abstract photographer learns to think in these terms."

http://ronbigelow.com/articles/abstract-photography/abstract-photography.html

Some of my observations from my photograph at Jantar Mantar that I feel put it in the abstract category:

The subject has not been literally brought out.  

The first question most people ask me when I've shown them this image is " What is this? Where is it? " and they don't believe when I say its at Jantar Mantar.

The scale of the image is not evident.

The shadow adds to the depth, thus creating an illusion of three planes.

The texture adds to the ruggedness and creates a decaying effect.

The simple lines and the vivid colour creates a mystery.