How To Navigate The Tate Modern As An “Art-phobe”

Understanding art (or at least pretending to understand, in my case) can be difficult to master.

By Olivia Frost

Image Credit: Maria Teneva | Art: Atlantic Civilisation, André Fougeron

Visiting the Tate Modern as a self-confessed “art-phobe”, I didn’t expect much. I was shocked to actually understand some of the art on display as I wandered around the floors. As I got further into my visit I realised I was becoming less ignorant and more open minded. I found myself stopping to consider the possibilities and meanings of the art, as well as understanding what the artist was really trying to express. I often found that my thoughts were completely different to what the artists intended – but that’s okay! Art is supposed to be subjective – you are supposed to give it your own meaning.

Having a creative mindset is more important than you may think. Being creatively minded helps you to see things clearer and understand uncertainty. The Tate Modern is bursting with creativity - so it is the perfect place to go if you’re struggling to open your eyes to the world of art.

Don’t be thrown off if you interpret the art differently

Image Credit: Olivia Frost | Art: Possession Island, Gordon Bennett

If visiting the gallery with a friend, don’t be surprised if you interpret the art differently from each other. Our minds all work in different ways so it is highly unlikely for two individuals to take away the exact same thing from a piece of art. Despite what the artist’s intentions were, there is no right or wrong answer to how art is supposed to be interpreted. This difference in perception is often what people (like myself) fear about art. For those more logically minded we prefer having a yes or no answer – so it can be difficult to adapt to a more creative mindset. However, once we adapt it is a great way to understand our own differences – just because we all think differently, that doesn’t mean one opinion is less valid than another.

It’s okay to not understand everything

Image credit: Olivia Frost | Art: White Plane White, Bram Bogart

It can be overwhelming when faced with a piece of art as ambiguous as “white plane white”. Though it may be hard for an art novice to believe that such a plain piece can have a true meaning, like every piece of art it speaks of the artist’s backstory. Bogart’s distinctive style makes this piece more than just a white canvas. Bogart himself describes the piece as illustrating the expansive sense of space, which, when you step back and look at it, is pretty simple and self-explanatory.

Find your own style

Image credit: Olivia Frost | Art: Whaam! Roy Lichtenstein

You may find yourself being drawn to certain pieces of art more than others. View each piece with a completely open mind and allow yourself to form your own opinions. Don’t just tell yourself you do/don’t like something – analyse it and understand your feelings and emotions. By doing this you will find your style and broaden your creative mind.

Image Credit: Toa Heftiba

We can often get caught up in really trying to understand and rationalise art, however, as Fernand Léger once said” “above all, it is a matter of loving art, not understanding it”. And if you still aren’t convinced, then there’s always the café and gift shop to enjoy!

Entrance to the Tate Modern is free but pre-booking tickets is recommended, tickets can be found here.