Abstracted liberalism

Some people think this is art…

I don’t.

Abstract art doesn’t fit my subjective view of art. Objectively, I suppose it could. If I assume, for example, that the artist who painted The Black Square was trying to convey a message of loneliness then I suppose he or she has created art (in the purely objective sense). But a black square is not art in my very subjective mind. It’s a black square.

Just as emotion without the constraints of reason can, from a political/societal standpoint, destroy lives and families, so too can emotion without reasonable constraints destroy art. Abstract artists paint, draw or write music which conveys some emotion; hate, anger, love, peace, etc., but they do so in a way that appeals merely to the lowest of our brain functions—instinct. This is the same truth marketers and casino owners take advantage of. Black is power. White is purity. Red is passion. And so on. It doesn’t take much to trigger a knee-jerk emotional response in someone. But it takes tremendous talent to touch someone’s soul—to appeal to their human will and intellect. Abstract art just can’t do what real art can do.

Now I’m going to contrast the Black Box with a real painting.

The painting below, by Timothy Jones, does much more than simply jar my reptilian brain like the Black Square. Tim’s painting moves me. It moves my spirit and intrigues my imagination.

At first glance, the person in the boat seems all alone. But he does not suffer from loneliness. He’s on his way out to do some fishing for his family. It will be a long day out on the sea by himself, but he enjoys the quiet and is comforted by the knowledge that what he is doing will bring joy to his family when he gets home. The other figure in the boat, a tackle box I imagine, is placed directly in front of the fisherman. Perhaps it serves as a reminder of his task.

Abstract art just cant do what art like that of Tim Jones can do.