COMMONPLACES ABOUT ART TODAY
In the modern cultural landscape, Art is often the victim of a series of clichés that separate it from the general public. These prejudices must be questioned to understand what the true power of Art is: TO COMMUNICATE, TO MOVE, AND TO TRANSFORM.
1. ART IS ONLY FOR A SELECT FEW
In reality, Art was born to be shared, to speak to anyone who has eyes and a heart to feel. It does not require academic knowledge or degrees: all it takes is an open mind and a sensitivity willing to embrace novelty and diversity.
2. I DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING
Finding yourself in front of a modern work can sometimes make you feel lost and inadequate. This cliché comes from the belief that art must be understood rationally. The secret is to surrender to emotion, to let the work elicit a reaction, amazement, joy, or even discomfort. There is no right or wrong answer: every interpretation is valid because art speaks directly to the soul.
3- EVEN A CHILD COULD DO IT
When faced with abstract works, it's easy to belittle them. But art is not measured by technical complexity but by the ability to convey a message and transmit an emotion. The simple artistic gesture may seem simple but contains a vision that only an artist is able to transform into reality.
4- CONTEMPORARY ART MAKES NO SENSE
Contemporary art often, precisely because it is current, provokes, confuses, and destabilizes. The point is that it pushes us to look beyond appearances, to explore new ways of seeing the world. Contemporary art reflects today's complexity and contradictions, seeking to break traditional canons. It forces us to question our certainties and for this reason is sometimes not understood.
5. ART IS ONLY FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD IT
The art market is certainly associated with astronomical figures and million-dollar auctions but at the same time it is not exclusively a luxury good. The value of a work does not lie in its price but in the impact it has on the viewer. There are: free exhibitions, public installations, street art that allow everyone to access artistic experiences at no cost.
6. A WORK MUST PLEASE EVERYONE
Art is not a competition. Its function is not to please everyone but to provoke reflection, arouse contrasts and emotions, and sometimes even divide. A work may or may not be liked but its power lies in its ability to not leave anyone indifferent.
Do you agree with these statements? Leave a comment if you like and tell me your thoughts.
Lora Grittini
