Art, as a vehicle of meaning, is often discussed as a static object with a singular interpretation. However, the process of meaning-making is anything but static. It’s a dynamic, evolving interaction between the artist's intention, the artwork itself, and the audience’s personal and cultural context. By framing this conversation through the lenses of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) and concepts like individuation and instantiation, we can explore how meaning evolves and varies over time.
The Meaning Potential of Art
In SFL, the concept of the instantial system refers to the meaning potential of an instance. An artwork, then, is not just a static object with a fixed meaning; it’s an instance of the artist's meaning potential. It serves as a conduit for the artist's intended message, but it also contains potential meaning for the audience—meaning that is yet to be actualised. The artwork itself offers a rich instantial system, filled with the possibility of multiple interpretations, depending on how an individual engages with it.
Consider Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, a prime example of an artwork that invites numerous interpretations. The famously enigmatic smile of the subject may seem like a singular, clear-cut feature, but in reality, it’s a subtle mix of emotional cues—her eyes convey one emotion, while her mouth conveys another. This ambiguity is further enhanced by Leonardo’s sfumato technique, which blends forms and tones, creating an almost dream-like effect. The ambiguity of her smile isn’t just a feature of the painting—it’s an intentional manipulation of meaning potential. The more one engages with the painting, the more meanings emerge, which speaks to the open structure of the artwork.
This dynamic between the artist’s meaning potential and the viewer’s interpretation allows art to generate not just one text, but multiple texts—meaning instances. In the case of the Mona Lisa, each viewer might see her as serene, mysterious, seductive, or even condescending, depending on their own cultural and personal context. The artwork becomes an active participant in a dialogue between the artist’s intent and the audience’s meaning-making process.
Individuation: How Meaning Diverges Across Individuals
The concept of individuation is essential here. In SFL, individuation refers to the way meaning is shaped by the individual’s unique context, background, and experiences. Just as each viewer interprets the Mona Lisa differently, each individual brings their own meaning potential to the table. This is how art, or any form of communication, can generate a variety of meanings: each person instantiates their own meaning, influenced by their unique set of life experiences.
However, individuation doesn’t only generate diversity of interpretation—it also plays a crucial role in how collective meaning is formed. The interaction between individuated meaning potentials leads to the emergence of dominant interpretations, which may or may not align with the artist’s original intention. This is where power, discourse, and history come into play. For example, the Mona Lisa has been interpreted and reinterpreted in countless ways over centuries, with each new interpretation informed by changing cultural, political, and social contexts. What was once a simple portrait becomes a symbol of mystery and intrigue, largely due to the way collective meaning potentials have evolved and been reinforced over time.
The Role of Interpretation in Meaning Evolution
Meaning isn’t simply assigned to an artwork—it evolves through a process of interpretation. As individuals or groups engage with art, they activate their own individuated meaning potentials, which in turn interact with the artwork’s instantial system. This leads to new readings and reinterpretations, some of which gain traction and become dominant, while others fade into obscurity. This process mirrors the interaction between phylogenesis (evolution of meaning over time) and ontogenesis (individual variation in meaning).
Political art, for example, may start with a clear, determinate meaning: to inspire action, protest, or support a cause. However, over time, its meaning may shift as new interpretations emerge. A piece of political propaganda may once have been read as a direct call to action but later be recontextualised as ironic or a symbol of resistance. This shift is not just the result of new interpretations; it’s the result of the interaction between the artwork’s meaning potential and the individuated meaning potentials of those who engage with it. As each new individual interprets the artwork, they bring their own history, context, and perspective, creating a constantly shifting landscape of meaning.
Meaning as a Dynamic, Evolving Process
At its core, meaning-making is a dynamic, evolving process. Art isn’t simply something that conveys a fixed message from the artist to the audience; it’s a living, breathing interaction between meaning potentials—those of the artist, the artwork, and the audience. This dynamic process allows art to evolve over time, with interpretations changing as new generations of viewers bring their own experiences and perspectives.
This concept aligns with the evolution of myth and narrative as well. Just as ancient myths evolve across cultures and generations, so too does the meaning of art. What was once a straightforward narrative may take on new significance as it is interpreted through different lenses. Art, like myth, is a living thing, constantly reinterpreted and reimagined as it interacts with the ever-changing landscape of human experience.
Conclusion: The Power of Meaning Potential
By examining art through the lens of SFL, individuation, and the dynamic nature of meaning potential, we can better understand the fluidity of meaning in art. Artworks don’t just deliver meaning to passive viewers; they invite active engagement and reinterpretation. The Mona Lisa doesn’t just depict a woman with an enigmatic smile—it becomes a symbol of mystery, perception, and time, constantly reshaped by the individuated meaning potentials of each viewer.
In this way, meaning is not fixed or predetermined. It’s a living, evolving process that unfolds over time, shaped by the intersection of individual interpretation and collective discourse. The more we engage with art, the more meanings emerge—each new interpretation a product of the interplay between artist, artwork, and audience. This ongoing process ensures that art remains relevant, powerful, and alive across generations.
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