Modern Art: Love it or loathe it?

Del.Monte · 04-08-2019 10:11PM #1

What say you? There have been various threads on this subject down the years but nothing recently - I think.

Whose your favourite 'modern' Irish artist? Sean Scully, Kevin Sharkey, Michael Flatley, John Kingerlee, Jack B Yeats, Basil Blackshaw....?

Mealys%2B2012.jpeg

I picked up the above painting recently and wonder what others make of it? I can relate to it and I think that I understand what the artist is trying to say.

I'm off to Netflixland now so won't be available to fight with anybody until tomorrow.

04-08-2019 10:16PM

The subtle eminence of that painting is a marvel to behold. Think Jackson Pollock vomit meets crow shat.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 04-08-2019 10:19PM

In before some philistine says "all modern art is ****e"...

AttentionBebe · 04-08-2019 10:22PM

Modern art refers to a specific period of experimentation that took place roughly between the mid-1800s to the late 1960s. Are you asking about that, or are you actually referring to contemporary art?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 04-08-2019 10:22PM

Deleted User wrote: »

The subtle eminence of that painting is a marvel to behold. Think Jackson Pollock vomit meets crow shat.

Agreed, it aims at a void that signifies precisely the non-being of what it represents.

Most contemporary art is deplorable.

Wibbs · 04-08-2019 10:22PM

I'm all in for the most part with modernism up to circa 1970, maybe 1980. I'd bookend modernism by the building of the Eiffel tower and the building of the Pompidou centre(both in Paris which was the catalyst for much of it). After that and especially over the last twenty years again for the most part it went squarely up its own hole. Often further up it than could have been thought possible. Someone like Bansky is important in my humble, but he's a rarity these days.

banie01 · 04-08-2019 10:22PM

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

In before some philistine says "all modern art is ****e"...

Well I'm one of those who think that the primary means of identifying actual art over a random pile of material is that it provokes an emotional response.

Love it or hate it, if you feel either its art.

If you look at it and think meh, then its not.

As for the pic in the OP, I'm sure I've seen similar on an Album cover somewhere?

Autecher · 04-08-2019 10:26PM

Rothko · 04-08-2019 10:43PM

With regards to Irish contemporary artists, I like Robert Ballagh.

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Irish Guitarist · 04-08-2019 10:59PM

I was in an art gallery years ago and I genuinely couldn't tell what was art and what wasn't. There were things that could have been modern art or it could have been stuff left behind by builders.

I really liked this painting though

JupiterKid · 04-08-2019 11:12PM

I love abstract modernist work - like Monet, van Gough, Picasso, Pollock (I’m a huge fan), Dali, Mondrian, Kandinsky and others but agree that, with a very few notable exceptions, much of what passes as contemporary “art” these days is vapid and lazy rubbish.

But then, isn’t art supposed to be subjective?

I do quite a bit of art myself. It’s an aside to my main job. Good for my mental health to have a creative outlet. I’m no Damien Hirst or Banksy but people do like my work and I’ve sold three pieces to date and one piece is on permanent display at a mental health clinic.

Badly Drunk Boy · 04-08-2019 11:17PM

I remember going to an art exhibition as part of a school tour, which I always thought we were brought to by accident. It was 1984 and I was 11, and it was the Rosc Exhibition held in the Guinness Hop Store. The only 'work of art' I remember was a painting of a group of people standing possibly at a exhibition or party of some part, and the most central character was a man in a suit, viewed from behind but at an angle. The most significant element of the painting was the little puff of air emanating from his posterior.

To an 11 year old, that's art!

Airyfairy12 · 05-08-2019 12:03AM

This is contemporary, not modern.
Allot of its good, allot of it is meh - art is subjective
The meaning behind the art can be what makes it interesting so if I dont understand something I always try to read the artist statement if one is available or speak to the gallery assistant if theyre about and look like theyre open for a chat. That said some artist statements are just full of jargon and make little sense.
I like the painting in the opening post, dont think id hang it on my wall though

Tamara tamara · 05-08-2019 12:52AM

Quite like that painting in first post too.
Would I hang it up? Not sure.
Do I know what it depicts? Not a notion.
Like the colours though.

branie2 · 05-08-2019 12:54AM

I do, but I prefer classical art more.

jaxxx · 05-08-2019 12:59AM

Is that a Rorschach test OP??

Zaph · 05-08-2019 01:07AM

banie01 wrote: »

Well I'm one of those who think that the primary means of identifying actual art over a random pile of material is that it provokes an emotional response.

Love it or hate it, if you feel either its art.

If you look at it and think meh, then its not.

As for the pic in the OP, I'm sure I've seen similar on an Album cover somewhere?

If the emotional response is anger or scorn at someone trying to take the p*ss by telling us that a pile of old house bricks is art (as I once saw in the window of a gallery), does that response make it art? To me it's a pile of rubble and some chancer insulting my intelligence rather than a work of art.

jaxxx · 05-08-2019 01:09AM

Zaph wrote: »

If the emotional response is anger or scorn at someone trying to take the p*ss by telling us that a pile of old house bricks is art (as I once saw in the window of a gallery), does that response make it art? To me it's a pile of rubble and some chancer insulting my intelligence rather than a work of art.

Ficheall · 05-08-2019 01:11AM

banie01 wrote: »

Well I'm one of those who think that the primary means of identifying actual art over a random pile of material is that it provokes an emotional response.

Love it or hate it, if you feel either its art.

If you look at it and think meh, then its not.

I'll start the bidding at €500 for this beautiful photograph of banie's parents dogging in a Fiat Punto...

jaxxx · 05-08-2019 01:15AM

Ficheall wrote: »

I'll start the bidding at €500 for this beautiful photograph of banie's parents dogging in a Fiat Punto...

Rubberchikken · 05-08-2019 01:21AM

im not smart enough to differentiate between periods but ill admit to liking the dutch masters works.
the picture in the op looked like lettuce in my fridge that id held on to for too long:)

Beanntraigheach · 05-08-2019 01:24AM

Del.Monte wrote: »

What say you? There have been various threads on this subject down the years but nothing recently - I think.

Whose your favourite 'modern' Irish artist? Sean Scully, Kevin Sharkey, Michael Flatley, John Kingerlee, Jack B Yeats, Basil Blackshaw....?

I picked up the above painting recently and wonder what others make of it? I can relate to it and I think that I understand what the artist is trying to say.

I'm off to Netflixland now so won't be available to fight with anybody until tomorrow.

Looks like he was saying "ACHOO!"

Donnielighto · 05-08-2019 01:27AM

If you are exhibiting art then it's for the audience not the artist. And then it can be judged to be crap if an artist wants to maintain something privately that's fine but you can't claim subjectivity after being torn to shreds it's just a bad piece in that case.

If there is no bad art then there's no good art.

branie2 · 05-08-2019 01:51AM

Beanntraigheach wrote: »

Looks like he was saying "ACHOO!"

or threw up

Sheridan81 · 05-08-2019 01:57AM

I'm no art expert. It depends on the piece. I wouldn't dismiss all modern/contemporary art in one go.

Recently, I started a thread on Sean Scully, who I don't like, in the Arts & Craft section, which judging by its lack of activity and discussion on renowned artists, may be an indicator of the level of interest in modish artwork, or indeed any art, displayed by Boards posters. One thread there is titled 'Remove supergue from school jumper', which just about sums it up.

One thing I will confidently say: Tracy Emin has a nice set of knockers.

Conor Bourke · 05-08-2019 08:17AM

Sheridan81 wrote: »

I'm no art expert. It depends on the piece. I wouldn't dismiss all modern/contemporary art in one go.

Recently, I started a thread on Sean Scully, who I don't like, in the Arts & Craft section, which judging by its lack of activity and discussion on renowned artists, may be an indicator of the level of interest in modish artwork, or indeed any art, displayed by Boards posters. One thread there is titled 'Remove supergue from school jumper', which just about sums it up.

One thing I will confidently say: Tracy Emin has a nice set of knockers.

You don’t like him personally or his work?

I was looking at his paintings online after seeing a piece about him on the news last week, very uninspiring stuff but I’m little more than a Philistine, I expect.

In terms of contemporary, accessible art in Dublin, SUBSET have been doing some amazing work lately. Their most recent piece was completed this week in Bushy Park, Terenure. It’s called “Please Stand By”, they describe it as

“A collaboration with Bushy Park in Terenure on new anamorphic mural reviving the old bandstand.

“Please Stand By” is inspired by the unfortunate fact it has been unused for decades. Using the medium of painted artwork we will create a site-specific, anamorphic installation informed by the historical and physical characteristics of the landmark.

There is huge potential for improving the visual environment within our congregative spaces through utilising canvases for large scale artworks. This provides a platform to express and cultivate Irish creativity in conjunction with nature, heritage and culture.

The artwork will be finished on the 03/08, please feel free to spread the word and drop down to take a look. We intend this project to be a catalyst for a wider public art initiative within local communities.”

Wibbs · 05-08-2019 08:42AM

Badly Drunk Boy wrote: »

I remember going to an art exhibition as part of a school tour, which I always thought we were brought to by accident. It was 1984 and I was 11, and it was the Rosc Exhibition held in the Guinness Hop Store. The only 'work of art' I remember was a painting of a group of people standing possibly at a exhibition or party of some part, and the most central character was a man in a suit, viewed from behind but at an angle. The most significant element of the painting was the little puff of air emanating from his posterior.

To an 11 year old, that's art!

I was at the same exhibition.

I was 17 though. I remember an elephants head made from the sheet steel of a car IIRC. And a pavement of blocks turf I think(which me and a mate moved around).

05-08-2019 08:48AM

^^^Really..was there any need for that?
Cheap nostalgia is an easy sell..

As for the piece in the OP..yeah, I kind of like it too..
What do you think the artist is trying to say?..Is he saying anything?
Did you ever think you might be wrong?..
Is he being awfully pretentious to think people might think he's expressing some profound truth in the daubings a five year old could do?
Maybe he was just trying to use up some old green and brown paint..

Earthhorse · 05-08-2019 09:05AM

I like the piece in the OP but only for its colours; it doesn’t "say" anything to me. Honestly, I think the big problem with art is focusing on all the sub surface meaning over aesthetic appeal. There’s only so much you can say in an image.

banie01 wrote: »

If you look at it and think meh, then its not.

What’s the difference between bad art and not art then?

Hobosan · 05-08-2019 09:06AM

I enjoyed Portal 2 immensely.

Hobosan · 05-08-2019 09:14AM

Earthhorse wrote: »

What’s the difference between bad art and not art then?

Bad art is art which makes the experiencers ask "What is art?" , over and over and over, for nigh on a century and a half.

Non art = bad art * time

Modern Art: Love it or loathe it?

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