A bit of artistic insight | The Truth and Charm of “Difficult-to-Understand” Contemporary Art

I don’t understand! This has almost become a common gap between the general public and contemporary art. Is the “difficulty” in understanding contemporary art deliberately created as a form of “making things difficult”?

Firstly, contemporary art has always been in a state of “breaking but not establishing”. There is no fixed creative framework, nor is there a standard interpretative direction. With as many media as there are now, it can give rise to as many forms; with as avant-garde ideas as there are now, it can carry out as advanced expressions. This unformed state makes it difficult for the audience accustomed to seeking conclusions to adapt. More importantly, it is an art that is still in the process of happening, having not yet undergone the purification of history. Excellent works and mediocre ones are mixed together. The audience lacks a basis for judgment. When faced with seemingly “simple” works, they are more likely to question the value of the works.

Secondly, art inherently has a “hidden threshold”. In the past, it served as a “social marker” to distinguish different social classes. Although it now advocates for popularization, it still requires viewers to have a certain level of cognitive foundation. If viewers have no perception of the avant-garde issues involved in the works, they will inevitably find these works obscure when facing them. The most crucial point is that contemporary art is not a “one-way output” exhibit. It requires viewers to actively engage in sensory experiences and explore the meanings behind the materials. If one denies it with an exclusionary mindset, they will naturally have no chance to even “enter the door”.

In fact, the “difficulty” of contemporary art precisely lies in its value. It does not aim for everyone to “understand”, but rather hopes to awaken the public’s active thinking. Even if you clearly state that you don’t like it and can give reasons, it is still the awakening of self-awareness. This promotion of independent judgment is far more meaningful than “being able to understand”. When you are willing to enjoy the “exploration process”, the charm of contemporary art will truly come to the fore.

The tea for today is all gone. Next time, I’ll brew a fresh pot and enjoy art with you again.