Contemporary Art Is Not "Difficult" - It's the "Easy" That's So "Difficult"

By Chen Chi-Hsiang. Some things in contemporary art that appear "easy" are actually not so "easy." I often say: "Contemporary art is not 'difficult'—it is the 'easy' that is so 'difficult.'" This controversy is particularly evident in abstract painting or conceptual art, where some claim, "Even a child could paint that," and "They paint it better than the artist does." Since there is no question mark at the end...

As for conceptual works, in today's context where anything can become art, one is left dumbfounded. Can that be called "art"? Things that evoke astonishment or surprise, extraordinary elements beyond the mundane, care about awakening the numbness in people's daily lives, stimulating viewers' instincts, sensibility, imagination, and adventurous spirit. Through the name of art, they call back perception, acuity, and the vitality of life.

For example, in the current special exhibition "Flying or the Dream of Flying" hosted by Paris's Red House (La Maison Rouge), Swiss artist Roman Signer's video work titled "start" (2014) transforms a tricycle into a space capsule ready for liftoff. Contemporary art is not difficult; what is difficult is how easy it is. Indeed, with more imagination, life becomes more interesting and beautiful.