Chapter 21 – Are you legitimate to talk about art?

We have scraped the surface of this question in chapter 4, where you antagonised your probable ignorance vs. my probable legitimacy in helping you wander The Blue Neon. I may have dismissed it rather bluntly at the time, but I would like to explain my position the same way you exposed this dichotomy, i.e. innocently.

A rather extended number of parallel universes – though the term doesn’t picture them accurately and they don’t define themselves as such, it’s just me digressing by applying our vocabulary to any other similar concepts – that propose artworks for you to discover already exist. You are just a modest click away from delving into an artistic awe, but I can assume that this never happened and never will; to my own sadness, for you.

These websites all seem to share a common goal: to display the most exhaustive catalogue of artworks, curated by well-versed pundits. The latter being all shaped from the same cloth and all willing to disrupt the art world while actually working towards maintaining the current status-quo. That not being done on purpose and we take any ill attempt out of the box here, we’re not fighting them, just questioning the methodology. Status-quo defined as such: only those having gained the confidence, through their education, to immerse in an artistic environment could enjoy an artwork and see themselves buying one, and the few outsiders non-educated regarding the arts who broke the glass ceiling did it for an obscure reason. So a large part of the population is left aside.

The creators of these online-galleries also often share the same background, which consists in having always been surrounded by arts throughout their life: at home, by going to the museums, exhibitions…We know you know the names, don’t be ashamed of it, this is a safe space your therapist would say. They are the art galleries you go to when you look for a specific artwork, let’s say a black&white photography of city skyline for 300£; sounds about right? Or where you go to scroll without engaging. Or to kill time. Or to invest. We have to admit again that their catalogue is brilliant and should you look for an artwork that will dress your living room admirably, you’ll find it, guaranteed.

To sum up their belief: the broader the offer, the easier it become to appreciate art.

But this doesn’t work like that and you could remain impervious to the effect of an artwork for ages even if you were living in a museum, while at the same time still being curious and open to experiencing your emotions via a new medium. Maybe I was even in this situation myself. So do the status-quo enablers appear more legitimate to talk about art; or does a newcomer, pushing against the democratisation of the art, also has a role to play?

That leaves us with the oldest debate in the world, nature vs. nurture. Hmmm…for which there is no answer – very convenient for me to close it like that, I agree.

Before going to bed, allow me one quick rant: should I ever say that The Blue Neon’s legitimacy – or mine by ricochet – stems from ‘hard work’, please hang me high & dry. Never has a correlation been so incorrect, as the amount time dedicated doesn’t equate to its quality; but more than that, it’s the use of this term that sounds like forcing a legitimacy, bordering the productivity incentive.

Is there anything preventing me from being at one with artworks? But how does one get into the art universe? How to enjoy it (from the bottom of your heart I would even say)? Your answer could may well lie in the next chapter.

Yours Sincerely,

BLUE