Abstract Art - why talk about it if you don't get it.

[i-need-a-martini]

I volunteer at a regional gallery and get to meet some wonderful, weird and wacky people.

But the ones that get up my goat are the ones who say "That looks like something a 5 year old would do." and expect me to agree with them.

And whilst we have a lot of community exhibitions that are amateurish enough (so perhaps the comment may be fair enough), the comment is usually reserved for iconic artists in major travelling exhibitions who are extremely well known.

Does anyone here like abstract art? And if you really hate it, why?

[j*oono]

Photo shop.

[rabbitearbandicoot]

have you seen the picture of the arrival of the first fleet and the aboriginals sitting on the hill watching the ships arrive. The Aboriginals are on their laptops, and the caption reads "that will set us back 200 years".

[lloydslights]

Well, due to the lack of printing presses and therefore not the prolific numbers of hunting/shooting/fishing magazines, the men used to come back to camp and told yarns of the "one that got away" and proceeded to "paint a picture" of the big roo:

DEB

[lloydslights]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiNwWqrBKzQ

And forgot :   they sang about the loss of a weapon at that night's corroboree

Sorry martini. gone a little bit sideways with art, however it can be classed as "a 5 year old's entertainment"

DEB  

[i-need-a-martini]

I haven't managed to get through yesterdays paper yet so missed that article.

I knew Gene Sherman and her gallery in Paddington from many moons ago. Not sure if the gallery is still there. She collects (some would say very weird) contemporary art and was one heck of a crazy (in a passionate and stubborn way) woman. I can well imagine how a fight could ensue with the Uni Gallery once she wanted to put her stamp on it lol!

And the Tarrawarra Museum art is the collection I am involved in now. Parts of the collection is travelling and they have collecetd the most amazing stuff.

And David Walsh is an arts God! Aside from his collection, the museum in Hobart is (in my opinion) the best art gallery for contemporary art in the world.

But I love Kaldor. A bit like the Vogels, his art was just part of the furniture of his house. He bought because he liked.

I can only wish I had the money to collect whatever I want. I have always bought what I liked and my walls are full but nothing is of value (excpet some antique pieces). You need money to collect like these people do.

[i-need-a-martini]

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@lloydslights wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiNwWqrBKzQ

And forgot :   they sang about the loss of a weapon at that night's corroboree

Sorry martini. gone a little bit sideways with art, however it can be classed as "a 5 year old's entertainment"

DEB  

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[youcandoityoucandoityoucandoit]

sorry about that martini, I didnt notice you post a reply..

Its a small world! I too know the Shermans, my partner exhibited with them for over 10 years and I was also in a couple of group shows. Gene and Brian run a foundation now at the Goodhope St Gallery, and bring international artists,architects,designers to Sydney for shows and talks.. Brian still runs Voiceless with Ondine..and Emile is busy with his film production company.

And my father knew John Kaldor about a hundred years ago, lol! back in the 60s when they were both working in the ragtrade..

Its funny you would mention Tarrawarra, such a beautiful museum- I love the long corridor that curves around the main space..and they have one of my favourite Meadmores..such a superb site for it..It leaves me breathless every time we visit.We are big fans of his work- and have a couple of small corten steel works..collected over the years.

And as for MONA- its a whole experience, isnt it?It was a few years ago when I visited- arriving by boat is a great idea, and to be honest, I remember the building more than the artworks!I think I prefer to see a body of work by a few artists rather than an enormous group show with a very broad theme..I keep reading that people who have previously had no interest in art or architecture at all are visiting and loving the experience.Which is great, but a little odd as the collection is quite contemporary, and provocative..I hope they then are more open to the experience elsewhere..  

As for collecting, we are able to swap with other artists, but we only live with what we like..and we often save up for pieces as well..most of our money goes into producing our own work!