I love art, and yes, it varies. Art can take the form of our inner thoughts, feelings, and imaginations, which are created or shared into something visible (that can be seen), audible (what can be listened to), or tangible (physically touched). It appears as a painting, a poem, a dance, or even a random sketch.
Art is how we communicate without words. I have been privileged to visit art galleries and museums, especially when I was in Secondary School during excursions. I see artworks everywhere which are stunning. They make me stop to imagine and admire the beautiful work of artists and how they express feelings that language cannot hold.
The work of an artist in any form is to create something with their creative mind, and for them, there is always a meaning attached to their work. Is there really anything like bad art? I don’t think there is, and I don’t think there should ever be, because it’s like criticising the work of someone, and instead of applauding them to encourage them more, we go about speaking or rating their work as bad. Why? Perhaps they don’t fit our taste or preferences, but it shouldn’t be that way.
Do we know how much effort is put into bringing such things to reality? When an art is tagged as bad, it means we don’t appreciate the effort, and that can discourage the creator. Sometimes, I see people criticise another person’s work simply because it doesn’t fit their expectations.
When people talk about bad art, it makes me wonder if what they really mean is that they don’t understand the art or don’t connect with it. This is something so common today, where they quickly say something is bad just because it doesn’t speak their language. After all, art is deeply personal, and what one person may find beautiful can be different for another person. They say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. So, art is subjective, and that shouldn’t make it bad.
Maybe for some, they find an art bad if it doesn’t meet up with the techniques, rules, and principles, especially when it’s out for competition. If such art doesn’t meet those standards, the work might be called bad, especially from a technical point of view. But even then, it is still not fair to call an art “bad” when it might still carry an aesthetic message. To me, art is not about perfection but about authenticity.
Everyone has the right to create something, even those who think they aren’t good enough to try it. Some of the world’s greatest artists were once condemned and criticised. Take a look at Vincent Van Gogh — he only sold one painting while he was alive, and today, his work still remains an inspiration to millions of people who value it.
This is to tell you that art has a way of finding its value beyond time and even people’s opinions.
A piece of art can't be seen as bad. There is a difference if one isn’t skilled enough, which can be understandable, and this is because such a person lacks the technique. But calling such an art bad is not ideal. To express oneself is already an act of courage, and what they need is encouragement or positive feedback to make them improve in their work.
Art is freedom, and everyone is free to explore and express without apology. I think the only bad art, if any, would be the one that has never been created because someone is afraid of starting and being judged.
Images are mine
