Liberate yourself from Arty Farty

All over the western world there is a populist rejections of elites. This is hardly surprising given the pre-eminent intellectual movement is nihilistic postmodernism with its divisive identity politics and moral and cultural relativism. When we are told there are 31 genders and that all cultures are equal but the West is uniquely terrible, is it any wonder voters rebel? They know illiberal intellectuals have lost the plot.

This takes us to the artistic relativism of the contemporary art scene. A party that still has the temerity to think it is beyond criticism. Dare to criticise contemporary art and the elite will attempt to silence you with such arguments as “art is subjective” or “everything is art”. 

A visit to a modern art fair could, in an idealised world, be an ennobling experience. You will be lucky enough to see at first hand the thinking of our brightest artists. Prepare to gasp at how they will present new ways to express the tumults and joys of the human condition.

But that is rarely the case. Instead what you do see is too often poorly executed and overly-intellectualised conceptual art, which is only barely understandable if you read the essay on the wall next to it, preferably along with a biography of the artist. The problem is not that much of it is ugly, although it is, it’s that there is no transcendence, no complexity.

You may be fortunate enough to be guest of a corporation to an artshow. So from their perspective the underlying purpose is networking (and fair enough, they are paying). Under those circumstances it could feel churlish to critique what is being displayed, like being invited around to someone’s house for dinner and slagging off the wallpaper.

But no host should ever be cynical enough to believe that because they are paying you should lose your voice. It is not rude to give your opinion at an art show. Bad art throws the good into relief, helping us articulate what we like and dislike.

But instead we have lost our ability to speak. Surrounded by stuff that, in the main, we don’t understand and doesn’t touch us at all, we simply blink and murmur and move on to the next room. 

There is a much more enjoyable way of doing all of this this. A way that liberates you, makes you powerful, interesting and fun to be with. Let rip and tell the truth instead.

Use the postmodernists arguments against them. Of course art is subjective (some people prefer The Return of the Jedi to The Empire Strikes Back, the fools), and precisely because its subjective no-one can ever state your categorically wrong. 

Secondly reject utterly the idea that everything is art. Listening to Daniel Barenboim playing Beethoven is art, while listening to someone murder the piano in an attempt to play it is not. Execution and skill still matter.

Finally and most importantly figure out what you think great art is. Sometimes its better to do this by starting with stuff you don’t like. Fortunately a visit to any modern art gallery will provide ample opportunity for discovery.