Yes, you could have made this. But you didn’t. (The truth about modern art.)
What aspect of a few colorful dots on a white canvas is artistic? I have asked myself this question before, as have others, I’m sure. When we see modern art, or even just simple art for that matter, we often wonder… This must have taken thirty minutes… Why is this in a museum… I could have made that. These are all valid thoughts, some of which I am guilty of thinking before. Although some of my favorite artworks are colorful and simplistic paintings, I have never had the perfect answer as to why they are museum-worthy. Earning a minor in Art History at UNC provided me answers and responses to these artistic musings that I have had, and now, when I hear someone say “I could have made that,” I simply reply, “But you didn’t.” Here’s why.
For starters, some art that appears “simplistic” really is not. It takes more talent than one realizes to create some of the most simple looking works; that is the true mastery of it. A prime example of this is the work of Jackson Pollock, who is often referred to as the “splatter paint” artist.
However, this title does not nearly describe the breadth and depth of his works. Pollock worked very carefully on his pieces, and each work took many cans of paint to make. What might seem like random splatters of paint were actually very meaningfully and meticulously placed. Click here to see a video of Pollock in action. It is a fascinating process. The art of his process was not only seen within the physical painting, but in his movement while creating, which has coined the term “action painting.”
Secondly, art is not about talent in the first place; it is about emotion and eliciting feelings. Math, science, history, and related subjects are about facts, knowledge, and finding accurate answers. Art is about expression and freedom. Why do kids in elementary and middle school enjoy finally reaching their art class period during their daily schedule? Because they don’t have to be right! There is no “right” in art. That’s what makes it art. If there were rules, it would not be art. Granted, some people are better than others at certain types of art, such as sculpting or watercolors. However, this is not the focus of this blog. The point of this blog is to show that if I created a watercolor collage that was not necessarily representing a physical object, it is still art, regardless of my talent in making things look realistic in this medium.
I can’t say it enough: art is about eliciting feelings. When you see an overwhelmingly “simple” art exhibit at a museum, what you might not realize is that it is making you feel something, even if it is not apparent. A canvas covered in shades of blue is much more calming than a canvas covered in bright reds. A canvas with curves gives off the feeling of smoothness, while a canvas with sharp edges conveys the feeling of energy. An example of some of my favorite “basic” art can be found in the works of Piet Mondrian. His works just make me feel good. The sharp lines, defined squares, and filled-in boxes make me feel a sense of completion. Not to mention, they make for perfect room decor. More works of Mondrian’s can be found here.
For my third point, art is representational. Look at the history of Apple’s logo. I can’t draw their very first logo, which depicts a sketch of Isaac Newton under an apple tree. However, I do think I could create the current Apple pretty quickly in a program like Adobe Illustrator. However, due to Apple’s branding, their simple logo elicits a response from your brain. You feel something when you see that logo, whether it is happiness, comfort, security, trust, innovation, etc.
Lastly, I think the rhetoric that surrounds simplistic and modern art keeps people from pursuing art. Just because we do not have the skills of Claude Monet or Leonardo da Vinci, or at least the time to practice and hone in on them, does not make us unable to produce quality art. Personally, color has always been my thing, and I am not super into depicting objects in a super realistic form. When it comes to painting specifically, I simply do not have that talent, yet painting is one of my favorite, most soothing activities ever. I have painted less in recent years because I wondered if painting different abstract shapes and colors was even worth it, but after the numerous art history classes I have taken, I want to pick up painting again even more. You are allowed to make simplistic, modern art. In fact, you are allowed to make anything. You can be a kid again and have fun splattering paint on a canvas. But you don’t because you think it is something anyone can do. Well, that’s not what art is about. Art is purely about expression, not comparison or result. So, if you can make it, go make it!
I will end on a quote from my personal favorite artist, Andy Warhol, of whom I will probably dedicate a blog to in the near future. The following quotation can be found on the front page of my website and has always been seen on any other personal profile that I have created for an assignment or project. I think it truly sums up how art should be viewed and how there is no such thing as “fake art.”
“If you’re not trying to be real, you don’t have to get it right. That’s art.”