Why do I hate abstract art?

Question

I hate it... so bad...

Answer 1

The same reason I dont like photo realism. We all enjoy different things.

Answer 2

I use to hate it too. When studying fine arts, I could never wrap my head around it and was just really antagonising everything about it. It was visceral. Then in my final year of History of Art, we had to write a thesis on a given piece of art assigned by the teacher. There was sculptures and paintings of all art currents and ONE abstract piece. Yep, the teacher imposed it on me. I was livid. 25 pages on a piece of art from a current I hated vividly. It was a painful thing to go through, but I dove into it (You kind of have to when it's worth 60 % of your final mark... Need that diploma!).
It was Kandinsky's 16th watercolour if I remember well, considered to be the "birth" of abstract art (not cubism but purely shape / color relationships). After weeks and weeks of studying and learning more about abstract art, I started understanding it's purpose, or at the very least the research the artists were doing. Their intention behind the work. It opened my eyes and I a loud "Ka-CHUNK!" in my head. It clicked ; I understood.
I believe that, when we don't understand something, we feel it's useless. Sometimes even threatening. In any case it's negative and has a revulsion effect on people. Nowadays tho, I can appreciate abstract art, not ALL of it, but I can spend hours in front of a Kandinsky from the Bahaus period.
The only thing I have trouble with today is contemporary abstract art. I am very opiniated about it... BUT some of it is touching and is can be pleasing (whether it's with colour / rhythm / etc.)

I don't know if your question was to find a way to try to change but perhaps learning more on history of art could help. That and going to art galleries ? You're entitled to your opinions too :)

Answer 3

I love abstract art -but not all of it. Some of it sucks.
But, it is weird because I am a realist and do realistic artwork of people (figures/portrait) mostly.
It is an aquired taste - or you may never like it. As I get older I seem to notice I am drawn to colour and geometric shapes. It starts out with an appreciation for impressionistic art - like Monet or Van Gogh. Then eventually Klimt "the kiss" - and Kandinsky - look on Yahoo images to do a simple search of "abstract art" or "Kandinsky".
Abstract art is becoming popular more and more because it can help with the colour skeme of a room when decorating.
I don't try to figure out abstract art - that is a useless waste of energy. I enjoy it for the colours mostly. If you love colours or shapes that's all you need to appreciate abstract art.

Answer 4

Some abstract art is AMAZING - and some just sits there and makes you ask, over and over, "What...?"

Good abstract art contains elements of good design - balance, harmony, pattern, movement etc., and it can really make you feel the emotion intended by the artist.

Bad abstract art is quite often the product of someone who claims "I can't draw, but I like to paint". gyahhhh.... Unfortunately, bad abstract art makes a lot of people hate abstract art, both good and bad.

Answer 5

People naturallly dislike when they first encounter something different, something they don't undertsand or won't make sense ...black skin vs pink skin vs red skin vs yellow skin, and so on. Southern accent vs Midwest vs Val Girl vs New York vs New England.Frend vs English, Muslim vs Christian. These are prejudices...and they are quite common. Abstract art, or more precisely, non-representational art (Note:: even "normal" art is abstraction because it isn't reality, it's paint and the image is abstracted from nature) is similar in that it is not something we can categorize by our everyday experiences. Without a language that allows you to diiscuss abstraction, you can be even more put off because there is no way to talk about it let alone understand it. Once you've become accustomed to paint talk, like form, color, value, line, texture, complimentary, adjacent, mixed media, expressionism, fauvism, cubism...you will gain better insight and understanding of what the artist -- and the viewer -- have to say about their expressions and reactions.
If you don't like abstracts...don't fret. But don't make a fuss about it either because you have chosen to dismiss it.

Answer 6

maybe you're not comfortable with the concept of abstraction, or of "art for art". perhaps you prefer things that convey a sort of message, or have a meaning attached to them. abstract art is supposes to strip the art from any meaning or purpose but art itself.

Answer 7

Perhaps for the same reason many don't like classical music. When you listen to a pop or rock song with basic lyrics and basic three cord music the story is laid out for you. You don't have to think about it. You just listen to it and either like it or not.

But with classical music, complex and demanding, you're expected to provide your own imagination, to decipher the meanings of what you are hearing.

The same with art. You see a realistic painting of a boy and a dog and you're got the story laid out for you. All you're expected to do is either like the story or not, like the painting or not.

But with really good abstract art you're expected to provide your own interpretation, your own imagination, your own think process.

Many people want everything in black and white, no questions to ask, no puzzles to solve.

I think the best art created speaks to us on many different levels and if it's profound enough we will continue to see something different in it every time we look at it. Our interpretations change as we change.

Personally, I fine most realistic art boring.

Answer 8

you hate it because you just dont like it, any way you have many talents that you will discovor or already have. It just is not what your best at. for example Im good at art but I suck at vocal music.

Answer 9

Hey i am here for the first time. I came across this question and I find the answers really useful. I hope to give something back and help others too.

Answer 10

Only you know that. Maybe you don't know a lot about art?