7. The Relevance of Art Criticism in Aesthetic Reception of Artworks

One of the most important tests through which the cultural vitality of an artistic community can be examined is art criticism. Art criticism has the role of analysis, interpretation and evaluation of artworks, having important responsibilities to the public interested in the visual artistic phenomenon and also to the evolution of artistic taste. The comments of art critics have managed to provoke public debates on art-related issues or have effectively contributed to the reception and promotion of artworks. The art critic creates a connection between the artworks exhibited in galleries or museums and the public who appreciate the aesthetic value of the works, in terms of explaining the context and the artistic phenomenon, so as to outline the communication between artists, critics and viewers, from the perspective of dynamics of new structures and forms of visual expression. In this context, the public formed through the visual education can be prepared and opened in receiving the aesthetic message of artworks.