If you’ve ever stared at a canvas with a bunch of lines scrapped with only a splash of color, most likely you would think it does not belong in a world filled with classic art pieces. In fact, you might not even consider modern art to be “abstract” art either.
The internet loathes modern art and it is often ridiculed with words like “pretentious” or “rubbish for the rich”. Despite the hatred for it, modern art is only another form bound to be touched and messed with. In fact, learning why modern art is so bad could develop a whole new art form itself.
When studying art history, the way you would analyze a painting goes far beyond the literal meaning of the piece. Critics spend ruthless amounts of hours looking at the strokes, lines, colors, and composition and envisioning it into a bigger picture. The perspective of an art analyst goes beyond what a normal visitor at a museum would be able to register in a painting or drawing. It’s fairly natural that there would be an automatic dislike for modern art. The overall appreciation of the piece could be significant if given the educational background for it.
But even the experts may disagree with modern art. This largely has to do with the lack of emphasis on conceptual art, which is the focus of the idea of a piece rather than the aesthetic of it. Often conceptual art puts the work onto the viewer and often the artist intentionally makes the artwork difficult for the viewer to understand in an artistic view. We’re so used to seeing art that makes you in awe of its beauty or anything that has a slight pathological cue. Some people prefer to gather something more than just a glance-like a train of prolonged thoughts.
As controversial it seems, modern art isn’t the first type of art to receive criticism. For example, Edouard Manet’s “Olympia” that shocked the French Academy of Fine Arts became the scandal of 1860s art. When art displayed glorified figures with naturalistic features, Manet created a painting with a prostitute as his centerpiece combined with cold, bleak colors. Although it was “grotesque” in the eyes of the French Academy, Manet’s painting was a success leading into the modernism era where famous impressionist Claude Monet drew inspiration from.
Like the eras before, modern art will evolve as our culture transforms. It proves that art is a reflection of our values and can be manipulated to provide the viewer that deeper level of understanding. It’s okay if you don’t understand what modern art is because while it doesn’t conform to your preference, it can be appreciated for allowing you to create a deeper understanding for art in general.
Sources:
https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-if-you-don-t-understand-conceptual-art-it-s-not-your-fault
https://www.vox.com/videos/2019/8/29/20838723/olympia-manet-scandalous-painting-create-modern-art