Community: Real Life

It's just not art


Sarah Barber

Sarah is studying A levels in York and hopes to be a travel journalist. She enjoys listening to music, cycling, going to the theatre and holidays in the sun.

Sarah thinks that modern art is overrated and that people who buy into it are deluded.

I love art. I can find beauty in works by Vincent Van Gogh to Salvador Dali and Jackson Pollock, yet there's one thing I can't stand and that's certain aspects of modern art. You know, the art that involves an empty cardboard box or a canvas covered in pig blood. Not only are these pieces pointless, dull and disgusting, but they also fail to display any talent. People who buy them must have more money than sense. To be honest, I think buyers would be much better off burning their money than using it to line the pockets of such egotistical con artists.

Recently, a glass of water on a wooden shelf was installed in galleries across the globe. But I think the only thing that makes it art is the reactions from people who like to suck up to anyone who calls themselves an artist. Why should someone who craps on a tent receive thousands of pounds? We all have the capability to do it, yet we don't because it's a vile waste of space.

I'm sure by this point many people will be protesting, claiming that this caliber of modern artist is making a comment on society or expressing their emotions. But, if that's the case, why are so many of these pieces untitled? It leads me to doubt they have anything interesting to say. Also, if I knew I could get half a million pounds for an unmade bed, I'd definitely claim to be "commenting on society".

Another problem I have with this strand of modern art is that it strives to be controversial or 'edgy'. Fair enough, it's good to have our beliefs challenged sometimes and I have no beef with controversy per se (my favourite book is A Clockwork Orange). Yet when something is controversial for controversy's sake, it loses all sense of meaning. Yes art should push the boundaries, but only if there's intellectual thought behind it.

"Anyone who feels inspired by a glass of water on a shelf really needs to get out more."

This strand of art is not only over-hyped and ridiculous; it can also be unbelievably cruel. A dog was tied up and brought close to death in a recent installation. Normally anyone carrying out such a twisted act would be arrested, yet as this was supposedly art, no action was taken. Regardless of the lack of skill involved (we can all tie a knot) this was a sick act and the 'artist' deserves nothing but censure for it.

But please don't get me wrong, I am not against artistic expression. Yet one of the purposes of art is to express talent and help stimulate people's imaginations. Anyone who feels inspired by a glass of water on a shelf really needs to get out more, get a life and broaden their horizons.

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