You know what you like.

Yes, you do. You know if you like chocolate or not. You know if you like stinky cheese or just good old cheddar. You know the style of clothes you like to wear. You know which colors you prefer. You know the kind of music you like to rock out to.

Why is art any different?

When you enter a conversation about visual art, most people tend to get really vague about the art that they like. Could the vagueness be a result of being bombarded with press release, artist statements and academic rhetoric about how in this particular work, the color blue is referencing this and the brush strokes echos that artistic movement while subverting this obscure German philosophy and contradicting a Mongolian folktale?!

Have we become afraid to voice our opinions and instinctual preference in art because the institution has, in effect, intimated us into silence?

When starting a conversation about my own work, I like to ask people which image of mine is their favorite. I like knowing what people respond to. But I don’t ever press them for a detailed answer. It is perfectly OK to tell me, “I just do.” Sure if you want to get into details and tell me about how the image reminds you of this and that and makes you think of this other work by so and so, I will listen. I am interested. I am interested regardless.

In all other areas of our lives, we know what we like and we don’t feel pressured in giving a long explanation or pull out a 10lb reference book to justify what we like. I like Pearl Jam. I am a huge Pearl Jam fan. No one would challenge me in a conversation about why I like their music. Even if I am challenged, I don’t need to come up with an articulate intelligent answer, footnoted and cross referenced. I could simply say, I just do, and it would be accepted to be my taste.

When it comes to art, I think we all should have the liberty to excise our right to like what we like and feel secure in our preference.

I Hereby Grant You Permission to Like or Dislike Stinky Cheese and Art of Your Choosing Without the Need to Justify Your Taste.

Send me an email and let me know which image from Wok the Dog is your favorite. It will be a good practice!

Please retweet this or share this on Facebook if you found the post helpful, or are also a lover of Pearl Jam, stinky cheese, and chocolate.

 

 

Share
Tagged with →