The tactile dimensions of abstract paintings: a cross-modal study

In our research we tested for the existence of cross-modal visual and tactile associations in the experience of abstract art. Specifically, we measured the association of 60 abstract paintings with four couples of antonyms related to texture, such as warm/cold, smooth/rough, lightweight/heavy, soft/hard, investigating if the different modality of presentation on a computer screen (color versions: natural colors, inverted colors, black & white) gave rise to different associations relative to the four couples of opponent qualities. Secondly, we tested whether there might be differences between the ratings of the paintings when they were presented as images on a computer screen versus in real life at the museum. The results confirmed that associations between visual and tactile experience with such complex stimuli exist. In the case of the couple warm/cold, a significant inversion of associated qualities occurs when the images are presented in inverted colors as opposed to natural colors; furthermore, when presented in black & white, warm evaluations are ‘cooled down’, but cold evaluations remain the same. The degree of smoothness could be considered not associated with the color versions. When seen in black & white, both the mean softness and the mean lightweight-ness of the paintings was reduced; however, in the last case, this effect was more evident for the most lightweight pictures. There is only a slight difference between the two presentations of the paintings as images presented on a computer screen and seen in real life, relative to the warm/cold and soft/hard dimensions. Of the four opponent qualities, the three pairs warm/cold, lightweight/heavy and soft/hard showed the most interesting results in relation to the cross-modal associations.