Fine Art

[Rookiemistake]

My lovely friend is coming to the end of a three year Fine Art degree. She has been working really hard and has an end of year exhibition this week. We met for coffee on Monday and she was showing me her exhibits and those of her course mates, explaining all the underlying meaning in them. Of course I enthused and nodded in the right places, this means a lot to her, but I didn't get it at all. Most of the pieces just seemed like random bits put together. There were some videos but I couldn't really make sense of any of it. None of it really demonstrated my understanding of art and skill. It just seemed like a load of self-indulgent twaddle.
My friend has done this degree having been a SAHP for 5 years to get back into the work place. She'd like to forge some sort of career in art. I think she's been had but then what do I know? Maybe I'm just incredibly uncouth with no appreciation for art.

I'd feel the same about a friend explaining their quantum physics research, to be honest. Although not the most obviously "employable" qualification, if it has given her confidence and opened her eyes to new possibilities and enriched her, then that's good, surely?

If you know fuck all about art you're not best placed to judge.

You can be supportive of your friend and her journey in whatever she is planning, but at the same time it is ok to not understand any of it too.

XenoBitch I would like to think that's what I'm doing. I'm really pleased that she has found something she has enjoyed.

I think the art world is like any other world - it has its own language. No different from corporate-speak, for instance - it means something to those who are part of that world but sounds like twaddle to the outsider. If she can speak and understand the language she stands as much chance as anyone else of forging a career although like any creative field, it's very competitive. Just wish her luck and let her get on with it.

I think there is certainly an element of art which exists to enable it to seem relevant and valuable as a self puffing approach - but equally the story behind the art is just as important as the artwork itself

If art was purely about the skill of the brush holder then photo realistic drawings would populate galleries - but ultimately they aren't that intersting to look at

Art is about self expression and helping challenge ideas or elicit an emotional response in the viewer, it's not an exact science and means different things to different people

Yes lots of art is contrived and on the surface looks like nonsense, but without art the world would be a less exciting place

the beauty of art that it’s down to each viewer’s interpretation of it. You don’t need to know anything about art to appreciate it. If you think a piece is crap and not to your taste then that’s absolutely fine too.

TinySaltLick thank you. I think you have put this brilliantly and it makes total sense. Hopefully others will view the exhibits and they will take something from it rather than my what a load of shit attitude.