http://i.imgur.com/7T5QZWW.png
Okay, I have a bit of an art history lesson for you, so bare with me. Do you know who Durer was? Albrecht Durer was a German painter during the Northern Renaissance. He painted this. A very attractive painting of a rabbit. Of course, this is no longer necessary as a functional art piece ever since photography was invented, able to capture the essense of a rabbit in a cheaper, easier way. Classical painting died with photography, so to take it's place, modern artists began to think "Hey, how far can we push things to stay relevant?"
There was an artist, who's name escapes me at the moment, I believe during the 40's who took Durer's rabbit and cheapened it. He painted it on a patterned fabric and only drew simple outline strokes to capture the general shape. I'm sure it had some sort of meaning, but it was just a cheap bastardization of a classic piece.
Artistic freedom allows artists to do as they wish with whatever message, and I, as a consumer of art, am allowed to look upon these works and see them as cheap attempts to push the envelope.
Because to me, that's what modernism is. It's seeing "How far can we push this thing before it breaks".
Now, there was a student in one of my first year classes. A fine arts class, mind you, who took a picture of a piece of toilet paper he had wiped his ass on, blew it up so it was 8 feet tall and presented it like a work of modern art. We as a class gathered around and tried to understand what it meant. He said it was to get a reaction. And sure enough, it did. It was disgusting.
At this stage, Ras-Buddah, that's all modern art is to me. Shock value.
I'm a concept artist and illustrator. I paint stories and create environments and I draw a lot of my inspiration from classical architechture, like the unbelievably amazing Façade of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane.. To curve and mold stone the way he did. And even the interior, which was such a small space, he managed to make it seem like the ceiling went on forever. This is beautiful. This is what I think of when I think of art as it was meant to be.
Now as I say that, there are of course exeptions to the rule. The Pre-Raphaelites are pretty great, and I adore the work of Gustav Klimt.
Thank you for your comments, however. I'm glad I caught it before you deleted it. It seemed like you needed me to further explain the reasons behind my dislike of modern art in general.
