Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
acercar la obra de arte a su potencial sensual.
English translation:
enabling works of art to realise their sensory potential
Added to glossary by
Charles Davis
Mar 28, 2012 10:15
12 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Spanish term
20yrs experience. Style & fluidity.
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English
acercar la obra de arte a su potencial sensual.
Spanish to English
Art/Literary
Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting
art exhibition
La muestra plantea la necesidad de establecer lecturas sobre piezas en las que el espectador confia a su ojo la posibilidad de acercar la obra de arte a su potencial sensual.
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Apr 11, 2012 07:52: Charles Davis Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+3
1 hr
Selected
enabling works of art to realise their sensory potential
Literally "bring them closer to", but I don't think this really works. For me it really means, in effect, to bring out the potential that is there, and I'd say "realise their potential".
I'm quite sure the "potencial sensual" must be that of the "obra de arte".
I think it's more natural in English to make it plural: "works of art", rather than "the work of art". "Artworks" would also do perfectly well; it's very commonly used in art writing these days.
"Sensual" could be either "sensory" or "sensual":
"1. adj. Perteneciente o relativo a las sensaciones de los sentidos.
2. adj. Se dice de los gustos y deleites de los sentidos, de las cosas que los incitan o satisfacen y de las personas aficionadas a ellos.
3. adj. Perteneciente o relativo al deseo sexual."
I think it's "sensory" here. "Sensual" really corresponds to meaning 3, with sexual connotations, or at least to 2, which is to do with pleasure. This implication may be present, but I think it's primarily referring to an appeal to the senses, which leads you to "sensory".
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Note added at 1 hr (2012-03-28 11:55:02 GMT)
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I forgot to say that "fulfil" would be a natural alternative to "realise", but for some reason I prefer "realise" in this case.
I'm quite sure the "potencial sensual" must be that of the "obra de arte".
I think it's more natural in English to make it plural: "works of art", rather than "the work of art". "Artworks" would also do perfectly well; it's very commonly used in art writing these days.
"Sensual" could be either "sensory" or "sensual":
"1. adj. Perteneciente o relativo a las sensaciones de los sentidos.
2. adj. Se dice de los gustos y deleites de los sentidos, de las cosas que los incitan o satisfacen y de las personas aficionadas a ellos.
3. adj. Perteneciente o relativo al deseo sexual."
I think it's "sensory" here. "Sensual" really corresponds to meaning 3, with sexual connotations, or at least to 2, which is to do with pleasure. This implication may be present, but I think it's primarily referring to an appeal to the senses, which leads you to "sensory".
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Note added at 1 hr (2012-03-28 11:55:02 GMT)
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I forgot to say that "fulfil" would be a natural alternative to "realise", but for some reason I prefer "realise" in this case.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Kate Major Patience
: "realise" is a better collocation here, I agree. This is good.
1 hr
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Thanks very much, Kate :)
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| agree |
Richard Hill
5 hrs
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Many thanks, Rich :)
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| agree |
Karen Vincent-Jones (X)
: though I would use the singular "artwork''
21 hrs
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Thanks, Karen! I tend to find the plural more natural in generalised statements like this, but it's a subjective matter.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
7 hrs
James A. Walsh
Spain
Spain
Native in Spanish
&
English
Spain
A cut above the rest in translation...
Native in: English (Variants: Irish, US, UK) 
, Spanish (Variants: Latin American, Standard-Spain)
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
64
Spanish term (edited):
confía a su ojo la posibilidad de acercar la obra de arte a su potencial sensual
latent senses decipher the artwork through their careful gazes
I think “su potencial sensual” refers to “el espectador”, and would handle it something along these lines.
Hope this helps :)
P.s., I don't envy you with this job!
Hope this helps :)
P.s., I don't envy you with this job!
Example sentence:
La muestra plantea la necesidad de establecer lecturas sobre piezas en las que el espectador <b>confía a su ojo la posibilidad de acercar la obra de arte a su potencial sensual</b>.
The exhibition creates the need to formulate interpretations of works, in which the viewer’s <b>latent senses decipher the artwork through their careful gazes</b>.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Karen Vincent-Jones (X)
: I like the idea of the spectator's gaze, but I don't know where 'latent senses' comes from
15 hrs
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"Latent senses" comes from "potencial sensual" - "latent" is a synonym of "potential", which I think is fitting for the context.
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1 day 6 hrs
increase/amplify the visceral impact of a work of art
You might want to query the client, but I think this is what he or she meant. I don't think you can really help a work of art to do anything - once it's finished and on display, all the doing is incumbent on the viewer/beholder. Example: Crucifixion Diptych (van der Weyden) - Wikipedia, the free ...
en.wikipedia.org/.../Crucifixion_Diptych_(van_d... -
Yet the two panels are noted for their visceral impact and regarded as a major work in their own right. The Philadelphia Museum of Art's guidebook describes the ..
en.wikipedia.org/.../Crucifixion_Diptych_(van_d... -
Yet the two panels are noted for their visceral impact and regarded as a major work in their own right. The Philadelphia Museum of Art's guidebook describes the ..
5 days
Adriana Diaz Enciso
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in Spanish
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
Genuine love for language for + 30 years
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, French to Spanish
to draw the work of art closer to his/her sensual potential.
To me it refers to the viewer's potential--the work of art has no sensual potential of any kind, though it has the potential to arise sensual or other reactions in the viewer engaged in its contemplation. I'd rather use "draw closer" than "bring closer" but that would be a matter of style. It sounds to me less definite than "bring closer", and we are talking about a possibility.
Discussion
I believe that the potential sensuality refers to the viewer' s eye.