A Midnight Chat with Austin: Art

Austin Li (ISB 12)

A BUDDY! staff writer, Austin is deeply passionate about art and is the informal successor to Jared F as the resident Renaissance Man.

Keep scrolling to read an insightful chat about the meaning and value of art!

Hi there, friends.

It’s currently 00:18 on a Thursday night (or is it Friday morning?), and the rain has just began to trickle outside. Earlier this week, I was approached by Buddy! to write an article for them, and I graciously accepted. But as days passed, my excitement for the article waned as I scrambled for even the flimsiest ideas on what to write. Just a couple hours ago, I received a text from my editor-in-chief to submit either a draft or outline of my article. I had neither. So that’s why I come to you, the reader, in this time of need. If I can’t think of anything to write, why don’t I just write anything I think of? So, it’s midnight, the moon’s shining, and the mood is right for me to open up in this nice little fireside chat. 

Should art have meaning?

Recently, I’ve been in a sort of creative block. Months ago, I was pouring over my tablet, drawing post-apocalyptic slice-of-life landscapes, but now I find myself shelving each sketch in an unmarked folder (if not the trash can). What happened? There’s this unexplainable question that has been bugging me for all these months, and because I don’t know the answer to it, I find myself stuck in an endless cycle of starting and stopping art pieces. Now, dear reader, I ask you the same question that I have been pondering over the past couple months.

Should art have meaning?

Now, I know the answer may seem *very* easy to some, but hear me out. It’s actually quite complicated. If we look back into history, back into some of the masterpieces of Van Gogh, Picasso, Turner, we are taught to divulge into each artist’s “intricate backstory” and how it affected their artworks as they grew as individuals. Furthermore, we are taught to assume that each brushstroke or artistic choice somehow holds meaning that adds towards the message or tone that the artwork is attempting to express. Now, I’m not belittling these frankly awe-inspiring artworks or the message they hold, but I simply ask the innocent question on why we value these artworks more so than a child’s painting. Does there have to this massive or deep or philosophical intent or message behind the artwork for us to appreciate it?

When it comes down to judging art, one can say that it’s not the technical skill that’s being evaluated, but rather how it portrays message or makes the viewer feel a particular emotion. However, what happens to the judgement of art once the intent of the artist is revealed to be nothing? Perhaps the artist drew a landscape for the sake of drawing something pretty, or even for the sake of just drawing something for the hell of it. What happens then? Well, once there is no point in searching for the intent of the artist, all that is left is to inspect the craftsmanship or quality of the artwork. This might be the reason why such artists who draw “pretty landscapes” tend to garner respect or recognition, but are never hailed as a master of their craft. 

Art should not even be held to scrutiny or judged at all.

However, to go further down my argument, I believe that people should not even judge art for both its internal message and its overall aesthetics. My point is, art should not even be held to scrutiny or judged at all. Art should be more about the journey that the artist takes rather than what people can make out of it. If we can understand that an artist rather doesn’t prefer to have a deeper meaning behind their work, we can begin to appreciate the artwork as a reflection of their character rather than as an expression. And that’s the ultimate crux of my philosophy on art: rather than judging art on a merit-based system, viewers should cherish the concept of what art means to the artist. 

Already, I can see some of you asking me, But Austin, doesn’t that mean the meaning behind your art is that it has no meaning? Yes and no. Sure, I don’t believe that all artworks *must not* contain meaning, but for those that do not possess any deeper significance, the fact that the artwork has no meaning should not inherently be their meaning or purpose as an artwork. In layman’s terms, there should be no meaning in the first place, therefore by giving a meaning to the artist’s work, it’s disrespecting the artist’s entire intent of making art for the sake of it. 

But then again, this is all of just my own hot take. Of course, you may entirely disagree, but I felt that this general issue was something that I needed to address for myself in the form of a... I don’t know... an essay? A rant? Whatever this is. But, if you want to continue this conversation with me, don’t be afraid to do so! My WeChat ID is eggstotheshake, and I’ll be eagerly awaiting your own takes on this topic :).