I have a very complicated relationship with modern art. Similarly to many others, I found modern art to be particularly challenging; I struggled to conceptualize the mixture of mediums and motivations that comprehensively represent this artistic movement. I would refuse to see it for anything more than a strange obelisk in a park, an odd assortment of found artifacts in a box, or those colorful Campbell’s cans that we obsess over. However, as time has passed, I’ve gained a newfound appreciation for modern art as I’ve analyzed its objectives. Modern art is similar to that of a “second enlightenment.”
During the dawn of the modern age, modern artists intensely focused on using their medium to emphasize the rejection of tradition in favor of personal expression. Modern art favored experimentation and was incredibly diverse in its approach; some modern artists created highly interactive, recognizable installations that resonated with the masses, while others chose to create unseemly, provocative works that sought to generate new perspectives. Eventually, in its stead came the contemporary era, which expanded on the concepts introduced by the modern art movement, focusing now more heavily on recognizable social themes. While this may have been an interesting direction for contemporary art, the digital age has come to take its share of what was once an appreciable artistic movement. The infusion of technology into the contemporary landscape has made art more accessible than ever, a notable achievement, but at a grave cost. Contemporary art, in its attempts to catch up with the present, has lost itself in the sea of AI-generated Warhol wannabes and consumer culture. And so I wonder, is it so bad to ask again for elegance?
In my attempts at warming up to modern art, I stumbled across the works of Isamu Noguchi, an internationally acclaimed Japanese-American artist whose work I feel perfectly defined peak modern art. Noguchi primarily produced sculptures, furniture, and industrial design; despite his dedication to functional art forms, his works frequently had abstract elements, emotional interpretations, and modern social influences. I believe that Noguchi’s split heritage between the United States and Japan heavily influenced his pieces, with his works blending traditional Japanese craftsmanship and American modernist ideology. This also resulted in countless emotional works demonstrating his resentment of Japanese internment in the United States during the Second World War. What I appreciate most about Noguchi’s work is his dedication to re-envisioning public spaces and creating accessible interactive artwork. Many would argue that Noguchi’s art was heavily influenced by consumerism because of his collaborative efforts on projects such as Herman Miller’s ‘Noguchi Coffee Table’ and Ozeki & Co’s ‘Akari Lamps.’ While this is a fully defensible position due to their incredible cost, Noguchi’s contribution to these and similar consumer products redefined modern furniture and featured a level of experimentation, craftsmanship, and quality that most would desire in a time of senseless mass production.
My favorite piece by Noguchi is ‘Fence with Branches, a work I feel encompasses the focus of Noguchi’s artwork best and the modern art movement as a whole. ‘Fence with Branches’ is a minimal work featuring two twigs attached to a triangular wooden structure. While the name is figurative, the piece itself can be interpreted in many ways. While Noguchi calls it a fence, it couldn’t serve this purpose because a viewer could walk around it on both sides. I believe Noguchi is attempting to suggest that the way we perceive challenges in our lives is simply based on perceived restriction, not actionable change — all of this communicated through a simple wooden contraption.
So, what am I getting at here? Ultimately, I believe that, like myself, many others simply appreciate elegance. Noguchi’s work demonstrates that modern art can create profound and meaningful compositions without sacrificing individuality or succumbing to the substandards of the digital age. Many dismiss modern art for its perceived simplicity, but as Noguchi showed, that simplicity is only as limiting as one’s willingness to search for deeper meaning.
