PHOTOGRAPHY | ART | HUMOR

Who Can Guess What This Is?

March Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Retro or Old”

Old or modern, I can’t judge.

“It’s a construction zone here!” At the Vancouver Art Gallery, I was ready to do a U-turn after entering this large sterile empty room with some old seatbelts sprawled on the floor.

“Uh no. This IS the art!” My husband snickered.

Many years ago, I ventured to The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York with an artsy friend, hoping to crack the code of modern art. Standing in front of a canvas of mumble jumble, I blurted, “What is this?”

He explained that modern art isn’t about recognizable objects, but the feelings it evokes.

My emotion at the time was bewilderment.

Now facing this pile of old airplane seatbelts, I was not only puzzled, but felt cheated. Was this the emotion the artist wanted to evoke in me?

Oh, wait. Now I remember — my friend said it’s not about my emotions. Different people may have different emotions in reaction to the art. Maybe someone out there truly appreciates this.

I still do not get it.

I’ve conceded defeat in understanding it all. But, my mind can’t help conjuring up ideas of sneaking a piece of old rubbish into a gallery room like this and seeing if anyone would pay a million bucks for it.