We don’t hate modern art necessarily, rather we are undermined by it and rarely understand it. If we were to admire the passion and intricacies of the Pre-Raphaelites next to the abstract expressions of modern artists, we would notice a stark difference that is often seen as a downfall.
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes evoke awe and help us realise something about how the world once was. We can see the importance of religion in all forms of life, and we can learn about who our ancestors were. Artists including Botticelli tell us of the importance of Greek mythology in contemporary culture, whilst Jacques-Louis David teaches us how Napoleon mobilised support for his cause.
It almost feels as though the artists of the past were more talented. With less resources and little more than a workshop to create within, we are inspired by their dedication. The air of conspiracy surrounding such artists also creates a narrative we are drawn towards. The accusations against Caravaggio and the ever-building rivalries between artists including Titian and Tintoretto make the artists seem more like characters than real historical figures.
We value art history as an insight into human and societal development. We value it as a story that we never had to live through. Modern art, however, confronts the world we live in today and offers us none of this escapism.
Take, for example, Wolfgang Tillman’s photography. He’s been known to capture the mundanity of ordinary life through images of laundry and cooking. We all know what it feels like to cook rice and wash our clothes, so it seems far less fantastical than the Renaissance artists. Perhaps though, we need to remove our own experiences from our interpretation of the images and see that there is something special in the things that seem so ordinary.
More controversially, we often think modern artists are less technically talented. I often find myself walking through galleries thinking, ‘I could paint this if I really put my mind to it.’ But the truth is that I didn’t paint it, and I was not the person with the idea. At first glance we may just see splashes of yellow and black, with red smiles drawn on a silhouette, but it is the message behind the painting that matters more in the modern day than the initial presentation.
Basquiat explores race, class and heritage through his abstract pieces, whilst Banksy offers a humorous social commentary. These artists force us to think about how we want to shape our own world, rather than offering us any escape.
So maybe we are underwhelmed by modern art, but perhaps this is our own fault. Perhaps we are guilty of overlooking the themes which we so often want to avoid.
Illustration by Sally Mulvihill for The Student