Art Blog #136: Why People Think Art Is Dead

Is Art Dead? Or Are We Just Bad at Seeing It?

"Art is dead," they say. The popular voices echoing across social media, blogs and forums. It's a critical sentiment that resurfaces regularly. From the latest AI-generated "masterpieces", over to the banana duct-taped to a wall that sold for $120,000, the internet loves to sigh in collective dismay: This is what art has come to?

But is it really dead, or has art just evolved in ways that make us uncomfortable? Let’s unpick this cultural knot and see if the old soul of creativity still beats beneath the chaos of our contemporary art world.

The Funeral Dirge of Art

When people declare the death of art, they usually point to one of three suspects:

1. Money Over Meaning: The commercialization of art, where mega-galleries and auctions treat art like Wall Street treats stocks. Think of the counter reaction: Banksy’s shredded painting that ironically doubled in value. Did someone ever see Banksy? There we go.

2. Technology Ruins Everything: AI tools like Gemini, ChatGPT, MidJourney, and the entire growing tsunami wave of “text-to-art” platforms have democratized creativity while making traditional artists feel like...well, they are not excited about it.

3. The Rise of the Ridiculous: Conceptual art pieces—like that banana—are seen as the poster children of a movement that no longer requires skill, just shock value.

It's a grim picture, right? A culture that’s traded depth for dollars, skill for algorithms, and beauty for bananas. Surely, art must be dead. But is it?

A Look at History (Spoiler: Art Has "Died" Before)

If you think people lamenting the "end of art" is a new phenomenon, think again. Every major art movement was greeted with its share of doomsayers.

• Impressionism (Late 1800s): When Monet and friends started slapping color on canvases without "proper detail," critics called it lazy and superficial. The same movement is now considered revolutionary. The word "promt" has quickly evolved into a slur in the creative circles.

• Modern Art (Early 1900s): Picasso’s fractured faces and Duchamp’s urinal weren’t just avant-garde; they were accused of being anti-art.

• Pop Art (1950s-60s): Andy Warhol’s soup cans and celebrity silkscreens turned consumer culture into high art, leaving many to wonder if art had been swallowed by capitalism.

Fast forward, and these movements are revered as milestones in the evolution of creativity. So, if you’re rolling your eyes at prompted digital art prints, maybe—just maybe—history will prove you wrong.

What Do the Academics Say?

For every Twitter thread mourning art’s demise, there’s an art historian rolling their eyes. According to the pros, art isn’t dead; it’s redefining itself. Here’s why:

1. Art Reflects Society: The chaos, absurdity, and tech-driven nature of modern art mirrors our chaotic, absurd, tech-driven world. From climate change installations to AI-generated visuals, art today captures the zeitgeist with brutal honesty.

2. Expanding the Toolbox: Digital tools aren’t the end of traditional art; they’re a new palette. Artists who embrace technology (rather than fear it) are blending mediums in mind-blowing ways—think of 3D projections, virtual reality galleries, or kinetic sculptures (hey, shoutout to Peter von Hauerland!).

3. The Democratization of Creativity: Yes, AI-generated art is everywhere, but that’s not a death knell—it’s a renaissance. Creativity is no longer gatekept by expensive schools or exclusive galleries. Everyone can create, and that’s a powerful emancipation from expensive art studio rent or the grace of the elite locked brick and mortar gallery. Even an oil color odour intolerance can be a real hurdle for someone very talented.

But What About the Bananas?

Let’s address the duct-taped elephant in the room. When people see a banana on a wall or a blank canvas labeled "Untitled," they feel cheated. How is this art?

Here’s the thing: modern conceptual art isn’t always about beauty or craftsmanship. Sometimes it’s about sparking conversation, making you laugh, or even making you mad. It’s not trying to be the Sistine Chapel; it’s trying to be a meme with a message. Love it or hate it, you’re engaging with it—and that’s the point.

The Real Culprit: Nostalgia

Much of the “art is dead” sentiment comes from nostalgia for a time when art felt... simpler. We romanticize the past, forgetting that it was once just as controversial. Michelangelo’s nudes scandalized 16th-century churchgoers. Van Gogh died penniless because nobody "got" his work. The art we now see as sacred was once considered sacrilege. I already mentionned Jackson Pollock and Bob Ross. Sometimes it is about the story really.

A Twist Ending: Maybe It’s Not Art That’s Dead… Maybe It’s Us

What if the problem isn’t with art but with how we’re looking at it? We live in an age of endless distractions, where Instagram reels and TikTok trends reduce our attention spans to mere seconds. How often do we really stop and look at art anymore? When was the last time you stood in front of a painting for more than a minute?

Art hasn’t stopped being meaningful. We’ve stopped making time for it. We skim past it on our feeds, treat gallery visits as selfie opportunities, and dismiss anything we don’t immediately understand as "not real art."

But here’s the hopeful part: we can change. The next time you see a piece of art—whether it’s a traditional oil painting or a digital animation—pause. Look deeper. Ask questions. Let it irritate you, inspire you, or confuse you. That’s what art is for. And try not reduce the art exhibition to the field of vision of your cell-phone.

Home Is Where the Art Lives

For those who just want something nice to hang in their living rooms, here’s the good news: art isn’t dead; it’s more accessible than ever. From online galleries (wink, wink) to local craft fairs, there’s no shortage of beautiful, meaningful pieces to make your home unique.

And if you’re worried about the bananas? Just don’t buy one. Plenty of other artists—traditional and contemporary—are out there creating work that’s thoughtful, skilled, and stunning.

Final Thoughts: Art Is Dead, Long Live Art

So, is art dead? No. It’s alive and kicking, just in forms that might challenge your expectations. It’s messy, weird, digital, and yes, sometimes even duct-taped. But beneath the chaos, it’s still doing what it’s always done: making us feel, think, and see the world differently.

Art isn’t dead. If anything, it’s us who need to wake up.

Peter von Hauerland