What's Wrong with Pretty Paintings?

One of the most shocking stories these days that I read online is that the artworks in art fairs are nothing more than decorations, just pretty.

I mean, there's so much countless stupid nonsense online, and I don’t usually pay too much attention to those, but I thought, 'then what else?' As I said in my earlier journal, I like pretty paintings, as you know, like watching flowers or listening to the music I like; it just makes me happy.

Does art have to have something more than that? Does all art have to have deep, serious, complicated meanings that most people don’t get at first, and they have to read through all the descriptions next to the piece, and then realise, 'oh, this is what it is! Astonishing!' Does this make good art? Obviously, I got offended, that's why I am writing this snarky journal today. Anyway, I still like pretty paintings. Why not?

Miriam Elia, We Go to the Gallery: A Dung Beetle Learning Guide (2015), pp.42-43.