There were too many things running in my mind while making these images Nilanjan.
1.I have been trying to represent a state of mind pictorially from many days. Some time back I posted a series called 'reflection' in CNP. But could not translate what I am thinking into images successfully. Both in that series and this image I didn't want the viewer to think what I am trying to convey. I wanted some strong visual abstracts which trigger some thoughts in viewer's mind. As you said
"Then again there can be abstracts which start with the visual elements in the frame and help the viewer to either start a fresh journey in his mind or help him to understand how the photographer started the journey with the elements in the image and how he decided to leave it unfinished for the rest to be interpreted in the mind."If the image is failing to grow I must admit I have failed in my attempts.
2.As I told I was always fascinated by the patterns found on the areca tree and wanted to make some visual representations using those patterns.
I have been trying to represent a state of mind/ emotions pictorially. How do the emotions look like if they take any physical form? I imagined various emotions taking various shapes in the space. I see them floating in the air just like smoke taking many forms and shapes. When I saw the pencil sketch, well I have been seeing them from my childhood, ( they were done by my father) suddenly I connected three things together a. patterns on areca tree b. emotions taking physical form c. arranging them in an order so that they touch the viewers thoughts.
Why did I use flat light? I have imagined the emotions in just shapes and forms without having any structures like smoke.
But while shooting I was not very clear what to and how to shoot. May be while writing this I am trying to figure out what was I trying to do.
Having said all these it is very important for me, image should trigger some thoughts in the viewers mind need not necessarily what I am thinking, if the image fails in that I should admit image is a failure.
I have posted one of the paintings(scanned copy) in the illustration forum.
This is a colored one, there were pure sketches also.