To clarify- itâs not just âthis is stupidâ and then youâre done, finding the meaning in something that seems meaningless can usually be found by starting with that base feeling, âThis sucks.â Okay- why does it suck, specifically?
âThis is just a vaccuum cleaner, it doesnât belong in a museumâ. Okay, follow that thread- why is that weird? Is it the elevation of normal commercial products to be put on a pedestal? Does that sentiment remind you of anything? How does that make you feel?
âThis is just splatters, anyone could do this.â Anyone could, couldnât they? Anyone can create things, anyone can make these movements and gestures. Dancing does the same thing, doesnât it? How do the splatters imply the artistâs movements? What does it say about them?
âThis person made a mobile out of twine, flower pots, and pictures of cats. How is this art?â What mediums do you define as âartâ? Paint? Marble sculpture? Photos? Why are you so sure that this is what art is? Doesnât this remind you of the kind of crafts a child would make, or maybe a first-time DIYer? Is that intentional? Does the construction or material evoke any other emotions?
This isnât an end-all be-all, of course- among many other things, thereâs postmodern art thatâs just for a show of mastery, thereâs art thatâs commenting on a very certain time in history or about something within the art community you may not be privy to, and thereâs art thatâs simply about creating and the creative process. Itâs hard to approach a full narrative with just a single sentiment. This canât cover every single topic, obviously.
That being said, itâs just as important to note that in many cases, thereâs no wrong answers in art or interpretation. If your takeaway is completely different from the artist, as long as you donât try to insist that the artist has no real say over their workâs meaning, thatâs totally fine. A large part of non-representational art is reliant on emotions, and emotions are informed by your experience as a human being. Your interpretation is just as right as anyone elseâs. And you donât even have to LIKE everything- I hate Jeff Koons and his stupid balloon dogs! Cremaster makes me incredibly uncomfortable and even if thatâs the point itâs still uncomfortable enough that it makes me not like it! You can just not like certain art, itâs not all-or-nothing itâs good or itâs not.
TL;DR- if you have a hard time âgettingâ art, try listening to your base reaction to what youâre looking at, and then ask yourself why it makes you feel that way, and why itâs constructed the way it is.
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