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Visual memory, Go and Painting
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Author:  tapir [ Thu Feb 23, 2012 10:18 am ]
Post subject:  Visual memory, Go and Painting

I remember to have read somewhere that professional players rely very much on visual aspects when reading sequences etc. I now wondered whether there is any relation to visual arts (painting). I guess that the best way to improve in Go is probably training Go :) and not something else, but has anyone thoughts or experiences to offer on how training in visual arts relates to Go? Thank you.

Author:  judicata [ Thu Feb 23, 2012 12:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Visual memory, Go and Painting

I know nothing about this, but I think many professional go players have also been good at calligraphy. But I don't know if there tends to be more calligraphers among go pros than the general population.

Author:  daal [ Fri Feb 24, 2012 2:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Visual memory, Go and Painting

Depending on the type of visual arts, different skill sets can be involved. When drawing from a model for example, an artist might draw what she sees while at the same time applying theoretical or instinctual knowledge of perspective, color, material, design etc. Despite having a relatively concise objective (perhaps to make an aesthetically interesting or pleasing two-dimensional rendering of a three-dimensional subject), a huge number of decisions need to be made in the process. I do see quite a few similarities between making such an image and playing a game of go. In both cases, the choices one makes and the skill with which these choices are applied determines the outcome.

There is another type of image-making, in which the artist does not have a model, but instead creates a work from scratch. There are a number of different ways that artists can go about this. One, which is perhaps akin to tsumego, is to visualize an image in one's mind's eye, and then re-create it on paper or canvas. As with tsumego, there are some images that are harder to create than others, (I recall my daughter once pointing out a picture in a museum in which a soldier had a left leg where his right leg should have been). It is however possible to specialize (for example a comic artist) and thus limit the range of difficulty.

In many cases however, artists do not have an exact image in mind, but rather choose a few starting points and see what develops. This too is similar to playing a game of go, because whether the developments are expected (as a result of familiar patterns or materials or whatever - joseki) or unexpected (tesuji) the artist must react to what he sees.

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