Every time I've seen a Rothko in a museum I've felt underwhelmed. But the Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas is something special. Quiet, immersive, spiritual. Secular spiritualism.
While you're there hop across the street to the Byzantine Fresco Chapel to catch their latest insane installation.
I used to not get the appeal of Rothko. I had one of those "my kid could do that" reactions to his work.
But years back, I started working in an office that had a bunch of his prints on the walls. Maybe it was the repeated exposure, but one day it just clicked. It wasn't just a mix of colors, it was a sunset, or a reflection on a lake at night, or a visual representation of what a happy or sad thought feels like.
Ever since then, I find pretty much everything he did to be transcendentally beautiful.
That happened with me too, and it was looking at Rothko one day when abstract expressionism just clicked.
I think people are intimidated or feel dumb when they can't understand it, which is why they insult it and insult people who like it. I try to tell them: I didn't understand it either; you're not dumb; just keep an open mind and one day you'll discover something transformative.
I don’t think I felt dumb for not getting it. I did feel confused. It was like those magic eye stereograms. I used to not be able to see those (still difficult, but I get one now and again). But before I could, I would hear everyone exclaiming how cool it was and I was like, dammit why can’t I see what they are seeing.
One day that clicked too and my mind was blown.
I had the same experience in a different way with the movie Tenet. I love Chris Nolan, but I simply didn’t get that movie on the first watching… or the second, or the third. But I could tell there was something there I was missing and I was determined to figure it out.
On the fourth viewing I sat there with an online guide to the movie in my lap and paused anytime I didn’t get something. Right around three quarters of the way through, that one clicked for me. I finally was getting the logic of the film’s premise. All the scenes that looked like a crazy ballet of action that made no sense to me suddenly made perfect sense… and it felt great!
Love that feeling of finally understanding something you were having trouble groking.
IMHO, it's the most valuable, important learning in life (and a great feeling). And the most important learning skill is to have the open-mindedness to believe there is something to it when we don't understand, and patience and persistence to discover it. Some things have taken decades, some are yet undiscovered.
Two techniques I use that help, though are not panaceas: 1) Many differences in perspectives come down to different agendas. If you see a trumpet and expect jazz, you are going to have a hard time understanding other uses of it. I try to look for their agendas. 2) More broadly, there's another presence in the room, the artist. They have a completely independent universe in their head than my own - theirs has nothing to with me, it's not a variation on mine, it's not an argument or debate with mine. Focus on them, forget about me.
I'm sure there are things that you like and I don't understand. How intelligent would it be for me to insult and mock you about them? Why do you feel the need to do it to others?
While you're there hop across the street to the Byzantine Fresco Chapel to catch their latest insane installation.