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Lee's avatar

It’s exactly the sort of art I used to mock in the ‘I could paint that, how’s it worth millions’ way but I don’t know what it is but I’ll always stop and look at a Rothko

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Martin Black's avatar

That's more or less what my sister and I said when, as kids, we were presented with a painting our parents had bought home. It's a classic question from young people and I think it has some merit to it. I don't know yet what I think about Rothko or abstract art, I'm still pondering it all!

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Lee's avatar

In Year 10 3D Art I had to write an essay on a piece of modern art sculpture, it was these 3 misshapen iron blocks on top of each other and I wrote this whole thing that I knew was utter nonsense as I wrote it, literally laughing as I read some parts when reviewing it.

I wrote that the sculpture was about class and about the working class being crushed by the others and how the misshapen middle block was representing how the middle class is squeezed and all this other nonsense I didn’t believe for a second

I got an A with pluses all across the page and the teacher said it was a university level essay and the best thing she’d seen a high school kid write, this again about a thing I was literally laughing about as I wrote it

I always thought that said something about how bullshit so much of art criticism is and how at some level they must all know it’s bullshit but then on the other hand Rothkos rectangles do affect me so what do I know

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Mr_Dave's avatar

Free galleries is the best way to enjoy art, no pressure to like it.

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Sam's avatar

Great quest Martin, but always feel free to like or dislike a piece on a whim!

I particularly like walking through the free galleries in Tate Britain ( hung by when the pieces were produced so it adds some context) or at the National Gallery.

Brave man to read Shakespeare! I was in that Loves Labours Lost once ( not based on a UK election) 😊

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Martin Black's avatar

the quest, I suspect, will be never ending but fun nevertheless

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Thalia Toha's avatar

Martin- Who knew I’d be reading about Shakespeare and Spinal Tap in one sitting. I suppose it’s bound to happen given the excellently eclectic taste here on Substack. Enjoyed this!

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Martin Black's avatar

So glad you enjoyed the post Thalia!

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