On an Appreciation and Tolerance for Art and Fashion

Art, being a creation molded in a specific context and frame of mind, is very personal and individualistic; but at the same time, being under this massive umbrella we call life, no matter how personal it can be, it can speak to thousands of people in many ways. This is why I enjoy looking at art-in museums, in books, in film. Without even ever knowing who the artist is, a piece of art can evoke emotions in me and connect with me in a special way. I grow fond of art pieces without really finding a logical explanation to them, except that it makes me feel something. For instance, my favorite painting is that of Van Gogh’s Bedroom in Arles. Every time I see it, it gives me such a “home-y” feeling that I just want to be in it. Nothing really impressive in the explanation there. I enjoy Piet Mondrian’s Composition of Red, Black, Blue and Yellow, without really knowing the exact reason why- I just do.

I am not an art expert. I am not aware of the various elements that make up such pieces of art, nor am I well versed in art history. While I would like to know more about those things as I believe these will further heighten and enrich my appreciation of the arts, I am but a simple admirer. That being said, I know what I like and I know what I don’t. When I go to museums, you would not find me as one filled with oohs and aahs about everything. With regard to art, I have a certain degree of tolerance, no matter how open I may want to be. I still find myself muttering, “WTF” when faced with what seems to be doodles on scratch paper, glorified for everyone to see. But who am I to complain? In this way, I really believe Andy Warhol when he says, “art is what you can get away with.” If this person considers his creation as art, then it is. Which makes me think, where do you draw the line between art and just plain bullshit? For me, something can be considered genuine art when it has meaning attached to it.

When it comes to fashion, I cannot be as open as I am with other forms of art. Fashion is intimately intertwined with the human body, and thus I cannot avoid appreciating it with respect to the body and how it makes the body look and feel. For instance, I can’t appreciate something that makes the body look like an overgrown tomato- it just doesn’t feel right. It’s hard for me to appreciate designs that just have like these misplaced holes in the abdomen. Where’s the thought process in that? What I do appreciate are designs that seem to understand the contour and composition of the human body, are well thought of and cleanly executed. However, since fashion is an innovative field, no matter how crisp and clean the design is, staying in the safe side will also not do. I guess this is what makes fashion tough- you try to expand the bounds of your creativity, wrap it around the human body in such a way that you will not make it look like your lola’s tablecloth, a giant peacock or an overgrown sponge with millions of holes in the wrong places.

Whether it is painting, literature or fashion that we are looking at, it all boils down to one thing: art is a slice of life that can be shared with everyone. Though once in a while I will encounter pieces which I will never know if it is genuine or just plain bull, the entire journey of seeing flashes of people’s creations, is a vicarious experience that is very much worthwhile.