Crap. I just figured something out. Sometimes epiphanies suck.
Modern art is entirely about the artist. Completely internal made external. You actually have to know something about the artist in order to really get anything from modern art. That is also one of the reasons people either love a modern work of art or hate it (or the artist). It either speaks to them in their own language in some way, which isn’t always especially likely, or they know something of the person who created it, and can “read” it in the creator’s language (at least somewhat) and they can relate in some way … and if you don’t understand what a work of art is trying to say, it not only won’t move you, in the case of most modern art, it won’t even appeal to you.
I might tell you why realizing this sucks, but at the moment, I have a migraine coming on.
I will say that I am not going to ever be much of an artist if I a) don’t learn to let go and b) develop an ego. More when my head isn’t throbbing. It’s time for pills and herbal tea.
I think you’re right. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen openings where people are staring at the artist and he’s holding forth on the grand meaning of his “masterpieces”. If you have to give grand explanations of your art, then you haven’t gotten your point across. Sometimes art is just pretty and none of it needs subtitles…
I have a post in draft mode, because at some point, a comment becomes too long to be a comment and becomes a post. So tomorrow, more of why art doesn’t need explaining, because it doesn’t. ;)