What is it that makes us tremble at the thought of giving our
views on a piece of fine art? That quick line of beady sweat which develops on
one’s forehead as we attempt to intellectualise what it is that’s staring right
back at our very faces…?
This crops up time and time again, and it seems to affect
quite a vast number of us. I’d love to hear your views on the topic.
I used Barbara as an example of this at a recent visit to
The Courtauld Gallery in London. We had full access to the gallery, so were
free to roam where we liked. Little did she know at the time, but I was
watching Barbara. Looking at how she was engaging with the art, what comments
and questions were raised as a result – and ultimately what she thought of the
art. Her views, her opinions. It’s not a lot to ask, right? Wrong.
Firstly it’s important to say that Barbara does like art.
She visits museums and galleries. She is a cultured being. She speaks French,
has travelled the world, has a degree and works in an international team in various
countries around the world. She even comes from culture capital of Britain:
Birmingham. My point is that she probably has a ‘higher than average’ access
and exposure to art, yet when asked what she thinks of a Henri Matisse’s painting
‘The Red Beach’, she becomes a bumbling, inarticulate, blushing being. She is
lost, strayed away from her comfort zone, marooned far into the distance of a
primitive island benign to the human race…
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| The painting in question... |
Okay, a little far-fetched, but as you can see from this
interview, Barbara is not at ease with my questioning. And she’s not the only
one. Many will judder and shake at such questioning, or use the opportunity to eavesdrop
discretely when others are having such discussions – storing up their answers
for just this type of awkward occasion.
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| Description of 'The Red Beach' |
Surely an opinion on a painting, is an opinion? You are
entitled to that view and you needn’t have to justify it with flowery,
intellectualised words of philosophical jargon and artistry? You give your
views on films, concerts and other art forms quite happily, but what’s with the
cement in the throat when art hits the discussion decks?
I do understand it to an extent. I really do. People want to
appear eloquent and intellectual, full of name-drops from history and their cultured
upbringing. This is who they are in their lives and the persona they use for
the world. But surely to speak up and give a view, however minimal it is – or
simply stating that they don’t like the art, is a better way forwards…?
I’m not sure why we don’t speak up more on our art views. We’re
an opinionated lot, after all. But do please enlighten me. I’d love to hear
your views on how it is for you engage with art. Do please share your view. Whatever
it is. I won’t judge you.
