Erbil, Tuesday (February 24, 2026)
Assist.Prof.Dr. Sami Ismail Khoshnaw presented a scientific seminar titled “The Dialectic of Materialism and Idealism: A Reading of Human Thought and the Philosophy of Art,” in which he explored the dimensions of the relationship between visible form and hidden meaning within artistic works.
The seminar closely examined fundamental questions behind the perception of an artwork, emphasizing whether meaning resides within the work itself or is constructed within the consciousness and inner experience of the viewer. The discussion traced the role of the senses and the discovery of the “ideal” dimension within the realm of art.
Contemporary artistic movements were also addressed, including Fluxus, which emphasizes the idea and creative process rather than merely the final product. Examples from artists such as Mark Rothko and Joseph Grigely were presented to illustrate this philosophical interaction between material and meaning.
In conclusion, it was stressed that “form” (colour, line, scale) serves only as an initial gateway to understanding an artwork. Participants exchanged reflections on how matter transforms into meaning and how one may reach the pinnacle of aesthetic experience.
