Hi, I am Riana and I go to Bard High School Early College. I am from India. Now one might think that, "Nobody mentions origin when giving an introduction". But for me that’s the first thing that comes to my mind because I have just moved to New York a few months back from India. Before coming to New York my mind worked pretty differently from now. I thought very scientifically and mathematically. So basically I thought that one thing could only have one right answer and there was always supposed to be a 'right' answer to something. But it was after coming here that I realized that a particular thing could have infinite 'right' answers. An art piece can be interpreted in different ways by a person.

I feel that the most important part of an art work is the viewer or observer. It is the viewer's thoughts that show him if the art piece is good or not good. The artist cannot do anything to change the opinion of any of the viewers. Contemporary art for me in the beginning was a little unacceptable, the main reason being I did not understand it. As my understanding of it grew with the help of my school, I began to accept contemporary art and very soon this acceptance changed to appreciation. Before I even knew it, it became a passion.

The best part I love about contemporary art is that there can be hundreds of interpretations of just one art work and not one of them is 'wrong' or misinterpreted. Art to me is like reading a book where it is up to the reader to imagine the different characters mentioned in the book and their surroundings. The art piece similarly allows the viewer to see it in the way he wishes to see it. His version of understanding of the art work could be related to his own personal experience, general ideas or society happenings. This is what makes contemporary art special – its room for interpretation. So let your mind run wild and free, imagine and you will be amazed at the understanding you get of your favorite art piece.