Modern art. Abstract art. Conceptual art. Just the words can bring out certain people. Even music forms like rap and metal are dismissed and disregarded.
Immediate responses include, “I can do that”, “That’s not real art” and “That doesn’t mean anything.”
Examples of Maurizio Cattelan’s “Comidian” (the banana duct-taped to a wall) or the rectangular works of Rothko bring anger to those who, in casual terms, dislike modern art.
But these critiques are overly dismissive. Even if you could make that art, you did not make that art. You do not know the work and precision an artist can put into their art. Visual art shouldn’t be judged by how closely it resembles real life or how intricate it is. Art is not meritocratic.
Realistic art is art, abstract art is art, and so is minimalist art, and so too is ready-made art.
Art is intrinsically human; it is the creation and perception of people through their senses. Music and sounds are interpreted and manipulated. A bird calls and we put a meaning, we put emotion to the tune and this is art. Humans then make their own music with vocals and instruments.
The same goes for visual art. We see the beauty or brutalism of our environment and capture it through art. Emotions are captured and projected into a piece and then onto an audience. The comfort and intimacy of a Gustav Klimt piece, the unsettling dread of Dragan Bibin, the intensity of Barnnet Newman’s work and the heartbreaking commentary of the ready-made piece Torres’ “Perfect Lovers”.
Art extends beyond music and traditional forms of visual art. Movies, clothing, architecture, performance, product design and even walking around can be considered art.
Each of these things can evoke an idea or emotion within a person. They can encourage us to stop and think about why the world is the way that it is. Why do trash cans look the way they do, and what makes the view from a bench so beautiful?
Art doesn’t have to be pretty or awe-inspiring (but it can be), art doesn’t have to touch the depths of your soul (but it can), art just has to be.
Not all art suits everyone’s taste, and some art is just bad. Art can be crude and cruel or just ugly. Modern art isn’t for everyone. I have a distaste for hyper-realism. Disliking art is fine, dismissing it entirely is not.
There are valid critiques to be made of the art world. The classist gatekeeping is discriminatory and pretentious, and that is just the tip of the iceberg.
But next time you see an art piece or listen to a song that seems simple, meaningless, or unworthy of praise, stop and think about it. Try to understand what went into it and broaden your horizons about what you consider art. Soon you will realize that art surrounds you, every day, all of the time.
