Why these all-white paintings are in museums and mine aren't

Why do all-white paintings sell for millions of dollars and end up in museums?
Help us make more ambitious videos by joining the Vox Video Lab. It gets you exclusive perks, like livestream Q&As with all the Vox creators, a badge that levels up over time, and video extras bringing you closer to our work! Learn more at bit.ly/video-lab
So-called "white paintings" are in museums all across the world and Robert Ryman's all-white painting "Bridge" sold for a record $20.6 million at a Christie's auction in 2015. How are these seemingly plain white paintings considered art and why is it that not anyone can pick up a tube of white paint and make one?
We talk to Elisabeth Sherman, an assistant curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York about why there is much more to these paintings than meets the eye, and while you could have painted on of these priceless pieces of art, you didn't.
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out www.vox.com to get up to speed on everything from Kurdistan to the Kim Kardashian app.
Check out our full video catalog: goo.gl/IZONyE
Follow Vox on Twitter: goo.gl/XFrZ5H
Or on Facebook: goo.gl/U2g06o

[@Vox]

Also make sure to check out the other Vox video about what the formula is for selling a million-dollar work of art kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHS3XoiCZ7JrfcU

[@morpheusamorphous1754]

Vox You should consider making a video about how people become abusive, aggressive and intolerable towards things that don't fit their aesthetics. All this became very apparent with this video. And guess what! It was this type of art that brought it into perspective. Bravo art!

[@Shawouin]

If you can see art in a white canvas, you don't need anything to see art then. You can litterally see it anywhere, so why pay this much for such a thing? I painted my wall white, I can see the nuance, but why this isn'T consider art, and that white painting is? Because people wanted to see art in this white painting, but not in my wall paint?

[@naknanacspblog7115]

Vox I

[@MommaMolly]

Vox laziness is not art. It isn't a matter of you didn't do it. It is a matter of they didn't buy yours. Street art is just as good if not better. Do not buy into the elitists tax avoidance scams.

[@MommaMolly]

Shawouin because a rich person didn't buy your wall.

[@MANISHSHARMA-pi1cl]

"This white dot symbolises life" "Where's the dot?" "It's dead" $19.5mn

[@whxmsii]

How does it symbolize life if it's dead..? Like, the afterlife?

[@MANISHSHARMA-pi1cl]

@@whxmsii "What is life but death delayed."

[@whxmsii]

@@MANISHSHARMA-pi1cl oh-

[@TomitaGregorias]

@@MANISHSHARMA-pi1cl This reminds me of: "Being is closest, but closeness is the most distant thing from a man" I can literally do the same thing: "This painting is representation of my deep inner thoughts imortialized in a painting that will live on and surpass my existent. The black lines represent the inner desire of man wanting to murder for happiness, but in reality happines brings desire to murder."

[@--hydra]

understandable

[@lxnarzmoonz8070]

"This is my painting of an atom" "Where is the atom?" "You're looking at it right now"

[@stxriey]

UNDERRATED

[@branndn_]

You got millions more atoms for the price of one smh why even complain lol

[@archmaiden]

Priceless

[@spongie8354]

@Kaleela Edwards how is that related to the comment

[@mosesmessiah9098]

Ahaha

[@SassInYourClass]

The white painting doesn’t make me angry. The monetary value placed on the painting makes me angry. If my neighbor made a white painting and hung it up in their home, it would actually be a really interesting conversation piece. The complete emptiness of this hobby that is exclusively for rich people is what upsets me. The massive amount of resources that they throw around for something indistinguishable from a wall is frustrating. And if the final argument is I need to bring my own something to make up for what the white painting lacks, which is basically everything, then how is it different from staring at my white apartment wall?

[@fruitygranulizer540]

this is exactly my take on this. they keep going on about the idea... like sure, the idea is cool. having a slightly off white square in a canvas might suit a very minimalistic room design, and might be an odd, but cool thing to look at. but its definitely not a $200k idea and it's not worth the praise that it gets.

[@freshlymemed5680]

This screams "money laundering scheme" and idk how more blatant they can get.

[@thatcreativebrain8575]

preach

[@d.l.parham157]

Yes! My feeling too.

[@kodoy]

Exactly. There are contexts in which a minimalist work of art would be beautiful, thought-provoking and emotional. Treating an empty canvas as a luxury product and putting it in an overcrowded museum robs it of any possible resonance it could have had and then some. If there's nothing personal from the artist conveyed into the strokes, then certainly little meaning will be birthed from its purchase by a vapid billionaire at an auction house. That being said, I get the reason why the movement originated. I understand how Duchamp's fountain is super relevant, and will remain so. Modern art =/= bad and people who freak out about this kind of thing are also kind of silly. At the same time, anyone who paints a white sheet in the year of our lord and intends only to sell it and make millions is no different than an NFT peddler.

[@lemonlemonlemonlemonlemonlemo]

my favorite piece of art like this is “Take the Money and Run” by Jens Haaning. A museum gave this guy $84k for art and in return he gave them two huge blank canvases. my favorite quote on this is "The work is that I have taken their money.” i love it because it doesn’t even pretend to mean something deep. the meaning is right there. it’s lazy art on purpose. the dude is underpaid, he saw his opportunity, he took the money and ran. i am obsessed.

[@lemonlemonlemonlemonlemonlemo]

i guess im tryna say this is pretentious, abstract art that is neither abstract nor pretentious.

[@jojbenedoot7459]

So you're saying the context of and idea behind the art piece is more important than the technical skill required for the physical paint on the canvas?

[@charliemayfilms1550]

No fr, sums up the whole minimalism industry (sorry… movement 🙄) right there. No need to hide behind false pretences that your ‘art’ ‘means something’ and has ‘value.’

[@SlothMan2]

"The work is that I have taken their money," best piece of modern art already.

[@Max-hy7xv]

@@jojbenedoot7459 what are the people who paint white canvases saying that hasn’t been said already?

[@user-uu1sg8ht1x]

People don't necessarily get angry about a white painting, they get angry about it being sold for so, so, so much money while millions of people are struggling to survive. To simply consider the reaction of people to art without seeing how our capitalist systems drive those emotions is what's so pretentious to me.

[@dibidubu4168]

this. i doubt many of the people reacting to this actually care much about artistic integrity or the philosophy of art - its the money, its the system, its how it relates to society at large.

[@nunnil1655]

@@dibidubu4168 people are just salty that a big name artist is getting paid millions for a painting they think they could have made (which they didn't). Most of the artists were dead by the time these paintings were sold.

[@uzulim9234]

I agree. The amount of money circulating this market is genuinely infuriating.

[@lndspk3316]

@@uzulim9234 oh boo hoo let me play you a sad song on the worlds smallest violin 😭

[@ras105]

I think that’s the point. The white painting makes you feel anger at the unjust nature of capitalism. Therefore it made you feel something. Therefore it is art.

[@xiaolongbao5758]

Someone said it in two words: money laundering

[@commandercaptain4664]

That's all I can think of when I see this type of "art".

[@thomaspolaino3188]

Lol didn't think of that but it makes sense.

[@ohboy1113]

Money as clean as that canvas

[@nullskull-everything5495]

But it’s not?

[@m1dos391]

ohhhhh

[@pixelraster9588]

You know, this video makes me want to buy a canvas and name it "money laundering" or "tax evasion via art museum donation" just to see what kind of reaction it would get other than being arrested

[@enzonavarro8550]

Good idea! Just do a poker face when you do that so they won't know

[@charliemayfilms1550]

It reminds me of that one artist who was given a large sum of money to create an artwork with, and when the time came to present it, they delivered a blank canvas titled “take the money and run.”

[@annnee6818]

Do it you wouldn't get arrested :)

[@SolomonUcko]

@@charliemayfilms1550 And now the museum is suing the artist for not returning the money as contractually obligated.

[@FLPhotoCatcher]

Art today has been ruined by the "Gatekeepers". They claim to be the art experts, but they really are manipulators who want certain styles to become popular, and other styles to go away. This can be figured out by looking at the price history of various styles of paintings. The art scene is more manipulated than tech stocks.

[@nyanSynxPHOENIX]

The thing about modern art is that it highlights how the art industry rigs value and displays of art by their author alone. The concept of "I could do that" goes a bit further than they make it sound. It isn't just the fact that the skill required is pretty simple (all things considered), but that the artist, museums, and contacts create absurd prices and fame to artwork regardless of skill. If I sent in my paintings, either my more complicated pieces or simply pieces, no museum or exhibition would display it, because I'm not famous and I don't know any of the others in the know. The problem isn't the art, it's classism.

[@illusrin]

This

[@pinguinpros6614]

I agree with the whole topic of classism in art; The art world has been completely ruined by the rich who see art as an object and not as art. Problem is, you - just as everybody else - have fallen victim to this agenda of seeing art as not only an object but also a craft. Art is not defined by skill or time invested, just as it isn't defined by it's value on the market. What makes art is emotion

[@tommcthornberry1064]

🔥🔥🔥

[@charliemayfilms1550]

Exactly. Van Gogh for example, that man lived and breathed art. It was his passion, his only desire for living, and he was good at it too…. but no one cared about it until he was dead. Davinci? A bit more famous to start, but his most famous painting the Mona Lisa? Only that famous cause it was stolen. What the artist values in its creation, and what the consumer values in its consumptions are highly personal. But what the elites value is monetary, and baseless in nature.

[@charliemayfilms1550]

@@pinguinpros6614 I agree with you. I’ve always said there’s a difference between art and skill. The line can get very blurred.

[@user-bf9qf6bp3j]

"So this is my painting of water" "Where is the water?" "It evaporated" Gets 30 million

[@ajmosutra7667]

Haha thats actually genious

[@st3alth_swing]

instant stonks

[@Youngieeeeeee]

Wait... you may be onto something

[@Skeptix1]

Gonna copy this one day

[@shivpatel7506]

Made me laugh out loud, this comment, obviously underrated

[@Hi-ey5zt]

Art piece: 🔲 I’ll be waiting for my 65.7M

[@esmeralda9712]

Téanna Ang 😂

[@ender4344]

My art: ⚪ Now give me my 95.6M

[@cal8338]

70M

[@roctionastre4015]

Ny first bid, will be ⬜

[@arpitsetya]

There. He could do it and he did it. Now pay him.

[@TomCruz54321]

When she said "The skill isn't important or the fact that anybody can do it, it's the idea behind it". Anybody can pretend there is a great idea behind their scribble. I can scribble some lines and say "This painting represents existential crisis. Why are we here? Does everyone have destiny or are we just floating around in space?".

[@pinguinpros6614]

Of course anyone could pretend this, difference is nobody believes them and so nobody even remotely cares about them.

[@charliemayfilms1550]

It’s also counter intuitive because one minute earlier they mentioned how the minimalism movement was created to “relieve art from the ‘burden’ of being about something.”

[@alacatooo]

It’s less about meaning and more about intention and process - its reflecting a concept in the simplest way possible without having to inject meaning into every single detail of a piece like abstract works or other pieces

[@alacatooo]

@@charliemayfilms1550 I think they meant visually

[@Vanilla.coke1234]

So do it

[@martinpospisil3747]

I wonder what would renaissance artist think of modern art. I mean the amount of detail they put into their art is incredible.

[@nicolaberry9550]

Teacher: I asked you to solve the problem? It’s blank. Me: I did. It’s not my fault you choose not to imagine the answer.

[@nicolaberry9550]

@Вероника Заглотова It’s a joke.. also problem solving isn’t only subjected to science. You can have math problems and english problems. Probably more. At least where I live. You’re saying “treated differently” like I’m lumping in art and science together and saying they are one in the same. Which they really aren’t. This is a joke about the artist’s ATTITUDE about their painting and how it’d be an unreasonable excuse in another situation. I paint, I wouldn’t say I’m an artist but I enjoy art so I honestly do not understand what your point is really? Not trying to be rude, apologies if I am, just maybe elaborate on your meaning?

[@sanyamushtaq5539]

I love this comment , get it to the top.

[@abehme]

1st: This is pretty funny. 2nd: But I disagree wholeheartedly. Why does art have to be "solved"? all that defines art is putting things into a different context. And its not like modern art isnt accomplishing anything. It provokes a lot of people as we just saw so it has definetely moved and affected them. Partly by challenging most peoples mindset on what should be art and what shouldnt. Youve described that mindset pretty well in your comment. The painting isnt there to be solved it is the viewer who needs to be.

[@mikeramirez2356]

"Calvin!"

[@baki_bold]

Literally 😂😂😂😂💀

[@zeldaharp4538]

And they say the Mona Lisa is overrated

[@commandercaptain4664]

Her smile is as blank as a canvas, so there's that.

[@maythesciencebewithyou]

Before the world war, the mona lisa wasn't famous at all. They just made her famous by telling everyone how priceless it is in all of media.

[@spokoju8199]

It indeed is, way more than some of these white paintings. Just as most of them, it is repetitive and unoriginal in comparison to other pieces from the period. It's sad, Da Vinci has painted pieces way better than that.

[@finley2987]

the ballad... get it..? cuz it’s a song... a Hahaha...

[@zeldaharp4538]

Wow, this comment got a lot of likes

[@greg5478]

Listening to this woman explaining modern art like a serious art was pretty funny.

[@pinguinpros6614]

Ok and explain to me why it wouldn't be art. Skill? Art is not defined by skill and can be created by anyone - What makes art is emotion. Also funnily enough, most of modern art is created by very skilled and knowledgable painters, who instead choose to create what we call modern art. It's a experimentation of what we can do. Whether it be in terms of colors, techniques, materials, size, or simply it's effect on the viewer. Price tags? As is that has anything to do with the artist and not with the rich objectifying art to profit of it. Most paintings bought for large amounts of money will never be appreciated as they only sit in a bunker in Switzerland acting as an investment.

[@saveena8035]

​@@pinguinpros6614 Do you thinks like a white-on-white canvas can evoke emotion (thinking about the art not the price tag)? Do you think experimentation matters if audience can not tell effort, like say Scribble by John Casilear in relation to a piece such as The Horse Fair by Rosa Bonheur? Because experimentation can be done by anyone really it just depends on who has connections for this art to be displayed.

[@fizz1081]

@@saveena8035 the white on white canvas DID evoke emotion to the masses: confusion, anger, intrigue. Art isnt about how much effort you put in, its about the idea you want to convey (even minimalism: the idea is that there doesn't need to be a meaning). And, to be fair, most of the non-artists who are angry about the "lack of effort" put into modern works dont understand art enough to even KNOW if there is effort put in, because there is more than just how "real" a painting looks: there is composition, line quality, texture, etc that makes a piece look good. If an art piece gets people riled up and talking, I would say it's pretty successful.

[@saveena8035]

@@fizz1081 Interesting take, thank you for your point of view. How do you think what is defined as art would change based on the setting? For example, if there was a minimalist piece in an art museum people will naturally see it of higher value compared to iff that same piece was a design in a hotel? Lastly, does art still hold any value if the public can not appreciate it? Because without the public, things can become quite esoteric . . .

[@kevinj2525]

Theres a real art to justifying modern art to the audience.

[@marcobiraghi]

The real piece of art here is the whole narrative around these white canvases. As a graphic designer, I get that there are different kinds of white, different textures, but those are unique because of entropy, not because of the artist's intuition. Actually, anyone could do it and come up with a unique result with its unique feeling. All the micro shades that come out of the depth of the paint are comparable to noise, and this is something that could easily be done by a machine too.

[@the60sdude68]

As an artist myself found a comment that I can relate.

[@GeekProdigyGuy]

lots of art could be noise. beautiful photos could've been taken completely accidentally, or at random by a stationary camera, or as a single frame out of some drone video footage. but, it's probably not - the art was made to look just a particular way. even if it was really and truly random, it still happened to be chosen by the artist (and, possibly, whoever chose to present it, if that's not the artist themselves).

[@elhornio5408]

I mean the artist could I don't know put that narrative on the canvas instead of putting the canvas up and mouthing off

[@galibjaman]

I didn't realize that I was living in a house surrounded by masterpieces.

[@MiamiPush2theLimit]

Galib Jaman lol

[@melissalugo7553]

🤣🤣🤣I can't!!!

[@commandercaptain4664]

Until a fly is swatted on it... THEN IT'S A SENSATION!

You could sell your wall to the museum

[@cloutelfin8323]

Galib Jaman HAHA

[@ishachoudhary7792]

And I didn't even realise that I ruined a masterpiece everytime I tried to create a masterpiece

[@hennerz93]

Did you watch the video?

[@yashmaniyar7768]

@@hennerz93 yes I did . If it's not pattern or some light coloured Painting then I don't get the point . If I want to imagine all the painting then I'll stare at walls they're cheap ,necessary and do the work . I know painting don't need to have a story or scene but it should evoke some emotion ( this only evokes anger ) . Minimalism is all about doing less and getting more out of life then why would a minimalist buy such a useless thing . And you know money laundering comments do make sense.

[@hennerz93]

@@yashmaniyar7768 I wasn’t talking to you but go off. You won’t get as much from staring at a wall because the intent isn’t for that purpose. Just because it doesn’t do much for you doesn’t mean it won’t for other people, if it didn’t then it wouldn’t exist because there would be no demand for it. So to act like your taste is an objective dictator of what’s valuable is more pretentious than the art itself, so some humbling would be very necessary here.

[@yashmaniyar7768]

@@hennerz93 man this painting serves a purpose to you . What's your favourite spice ,flour ??

[@hennerz93]

@@yashmaniyar7768 When did I say it served a purpose to me personally?

[@PanD0rA_]

“This is called: The Old Woman” “Where is the old woman” “She passed away yesterday” 46 million

[@pinguinpros6614]

Wow you really went all out with your creativity on this one

[@PanD0rA_]

@@pinguinpros6614 who hurt you

[@samgyeopsal569]

@@PanD0rA_ it was me, I hurt him.

[@Gyudles]

If I saw a plain white canvas at a gallery, I think I’d unconsciously assume it was a space holder. Maybe the original painting in that spot was being repaired or the painting that was supposed to be there was arriving late.

[@annacastro5672]

The correct answer is “tax evasion/money laundering” thanks

[@rura3350]

Anna Castro fax

[@cli260]

We got the answer!

[@allonmyownherewego9893]

bro...you know wassaup fam. respect

[@dankoakyl]

Wow

[@mohammadsavad4331]

Truth

[@jamesr.2017]

money launderers aren’t even trying anymore

[@echonuim]

At least with the mattress stores they still provided a decent product.

[@harielnalda5529]

I was looking for this comment

[@mixedvibes9613]

this comment made me laugh for like a minute straight tysm

[@vince1987]

This is a "tell me you've never laundered money before without telling me you've never laundered money before" comment.

[@Honestry_]

@@vince1987 how would YOU know?👀

[@oldpossum57]

“The Emperor’s New Clothes”, by Anderson, is a very important story for anyone studying or practicing arts, humanities, social sciences, politics, marketing, and so on.

[@cancerino666]

Just because anything can be art, doesn't mean everything belongs in a museum.

[@Tehom1]

They want Minimalism? I didn't even send them a painting, or even actually make one. Let's see the Minimalists top that.

[@DeusEx3]

Tehom The guy who did the same thing without telling anyone topped it.

[@Tehom1]

True! I have to admit, that guy did me one better.

[@DeusEx3]

Tehom What a guy! You know, for a minimalist he's just a bit too much sometimes.

[@Killinemkid]

But my comment has less wor

[@supernova8536]

Tehom I actually received a painting from them instead of sending my own in. Now that is minimalist

[@thebagelboyjr9351]

Every time bob ross started an episode of The Joy of Painting, he started with a thin coat of the liquid hwhite. Little did he know, he already created a masterpiece before he even started painting.

[@kavishp9399]

hwhite mate love the attention to detail :D!!!

[@shashasha55]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@preetioswal6652]

love ur comment 🤣🤣

[@TopsideCrisis346]

Nailed it! 😂

[@DZ477]

Well you're not wrong, people would pay because it's Bob Ross.

[@JoeMama-yd1ve]

I bought a canvas and left it white. It was an act of genius. I set it up, got my brushes, but then I looked at it, at the whiteness of it, and thought, "My God, I've done it!" and wept.

[@boggers]

I have a bunch of paints and a huge unpainted wooden board that's been sitting in my room for over a year now. I'm not sure whether to call it "indecision" or "procrastination" or "I have better things to do than paint"

[@odd1ty612]

“I call this piece: ‘The Launder’ “ “Ah, I get it! Because it’s white, like laundry!” “What? Oh, uh, yeah….”

[@lor5128]

It's obviously a painting of John Cena

[@chloe-rx1mj]

Zebra Man noice

[@sheilaahmed45]

Zebra Man ha

[@adamzackheim3193]

Ta Ta Da Da!

[@c.arlynx]

Of what?

[@conquered.kozmos1395]

😂

[@caithlinhunt8673]

I was distracted while she was talking by the masterpiece in the background

[@ye2120]

lmaooo

[@margheritavignandel5674]

Ahaha

[@mappplesirrup8473]

yus

[@Ohm_Gulf_Gang]

I think your comment should get more likes😂😂😂

[@kherrypie4586]

I laughed out loud in class because of this

[@bendirval3612]

I love how she says all that with an absolutely straight and sincere face. You have to practice spouting nonsense for a long time before it becomes that natural.

[@niki1990]

i refuse to believe that this white painting needs more work than pop art

[@xquisid]

No, thanks. I rather spend my time watching Bob Ross draw a mountain than this bs.

[@anwardaud]

Bob ross is a legend no doubt

[@rae8562]

?

[@o.o9709]

correction*: we'd all just watch Bob Ross *period.*

[@billypunkrock5590]

Oh my yes!!!!

[@user-mm5yz9sw5n]

@@rae8562 What do you mean "?"

[@carrot1654]

Hiya everyone it's Bob Ross; so glad you could join me. I've started off by putting a layer of liquid white on the canvas. Well I think that just about does it. Thank you for watching, God bless.

[@jahfunny6365]

Underrated comment right here.

[@redsquirrel04]

👏👏👏

[@zaynkataw83]

The Doctor good one

[@JeriahMiller]

Hahahahaahhaha

[@Rico-st6mo]

The Doctor "Its your painting, you can do aaaanything you want".

[@trellises]

Right, so let me submit a blank paper on my next test. They should pay me 20 million dollars for it.

[@Moodboard39]

but u didnt lol

[@lhia0416]

So I don't know about the white canvas, but when I was learning how to paint, one of the first work was to do a Mondriaan. While it looked easy since it's just blocks of colors separated by thick black lines, I learned that my painting was no where as pleasing as a Mondriaan. Even with the same colors (blue, red, white), the arrangements of them--the placements of these colors, the sizes of them, the shapes of them, they all make a difference to just how aesthetically unsightful mine was compared to a Mondriaan. So there is something to say about minimalist art--the choices an artist makes does make a difference. So at least now when I look at a Mondriaan, I come to appreciate his work. I don't proclaim I understand what it symbolizes, but I just know my color palette or aesthetics is not as good as his and therefore will never be able to produce the works as good as his.

[@talisa222]

It definitely does take skill and taste to make good modern art. And frankly speaking a certain level of confidence and/or delusion of ego. Whether or not it's worth the kind of price tag it often fetches for is what's debatable imo.

[@gclip9883]

@@talisa222What people often overlook is that the price tag depends mainly on how famous the artist is. It is simple supply and demand. There are millions of abstract artists right now who can't sell their work for more than a couple hundred dollars, those high ticket sales make up maybe 0.000001% of the entire art market. The material value of the actual piece doesn't really matter, neither does the message or the idea that the piece represents. It is just a question of how many rich people want to own it, and for that to happen, the artist has to be very famous.

[@kavitajoshi6574]

*Art teacher* : *where is the homework i asked for???* *Me* : *what you see is what you see*

[@LazyAndFabulous]

And then everyone clapped.

[@crotchet6439]

@@LazyAndFabulous give me my car back

[@aidankelly9445]

Teacher : You didin’t paint anything. Student : see that atom right there? That’s my art, now my 20 mil please.

[@nattlipo4885]

@@LazyAndFabulous Hah, I have no car.

[@nattlipo4885]

@@aidankelly9445 lol.

[@zachydrogeo]

A minimalist white painting being sold for millions in a prestigious gallery is like elevator music being #1 hit single of the year.

[@wyomingisfake4813]

It's probably a lot harder to compose an elevator jingle

[@sim0magic]

It's more like the same flavour of pop music being #1 every week.

[@sheldonnez09]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@gavinthecrafter]

I mean if that elevator music was pretty good, I could see it happening

[@shemshem9998]

No, that takes effort, it's more like a single note from a piano being played

[@Natalietrans]

I call this piece “Your Wallet” “But it’s so empty”

[@andresgonzalez-gm5ry]

I can even go to the point of seeing something interesting in the "white over white" paiting, but beyond that point it is just impossible to defend. They mention texture and shaping as if those two elements were not present in pretty much EVERY painting out there. A white canvas goes beyond minimalism and at least for me it cannot be taken as seriously as any other work of art

[@que504]

This is like releasing a 3 hour long movie that is just a white screen and being like "Oh,,the viewer has to imagine their own movie"

[@prispalos]

This is the most accurate analogy I've seen

[@ShakaZoulou77]

There's a Portuguese movie with almost no images which won prizes and were funded by governmental money " Branca de Neve" from João César Monteiro

[@mrrickstur]

You imagine your own movie, but you don’t get to make up the price though 😂

[@LilTiggsz]

Spot on! 😂😂💀

[@guybrushthreepwood9071]

Because it's so much more "rewarding" when you've put more effort in it. Not like these lazy storydriven movies with plots for common people.

[@zachgillies1336]

No doubt it's money laundering

[@gin3868]

dude, lol

[@VolcanicPenguin]

Jimmy NUTron I think you're on to something

[@HH-ly8xw]

Jimmy NUTron I'm woke

[@Luvofmarz]

Lmao you might just be right

[@DannyFinch_]

i was just about to comment the same thing!

[@webcap7653]

This is the hardest coping i've ever seen.

[@trvlydre]

I think there’s a difference between “minimalism” and “nothing”

[@Amir_ZMI]

I'm sorry I really tried to be open minded but it's still nonsense

[@alexandresimard8104]

That's the point though... You feel nonsense towards it. This thing that is nothing ! When she wanted you to be "open minded" she didnt mean change your point of view that this is nonsense. It was more like, realize that you feel nonsense towards this blank painting.

[@thahuseen9674]

Alexandre Simard whats the difference between those modern paintings and a drawing paper.......

[@marcellinus3981]

Alexandre Simard That’s called ‘Apophenia’ , buddy.

[@alexandresimard8104]

your social network and credibility

[@alexandresimard8104]

Thanks for educating me ;)

[@KazumaBan]

Let’s be honest, we don’t really care about the art pieces it’s self. We just mad that it goes for millions.

[@twins2936]

The opposite actually

[@johnr797]

I'm mad at both. Also, I'll throw on a bonus. I'm mad that people try to justify it by making videos like this.

[@arriannaniv]

If it actually showed skill and thought. Like I could tell they didn’t just do as little effort as possible to make as much money as possible. This is basically min maxing in art

[@johnr797]

@@arriannaniv this is charisma 20 dexterity 1 in action

[@AlbertoTuber]

@@arriannaniv effort doesn't always equal value, that is not how the real world works

[@wonderstruck.]

I think minimalist art, and modern art in general, is what it makes you feel. I don’t get anything from these white paintings. But I could stare at some Mondrian paintings (2:58) or Flavin light installations (3:06) for hours.

[@bamboozledan]

I'm more impressed with how she said all that with a straight face.

[@Kathleenxo___]

The artist who painted the white canvas is not the the artist. I had to invision the art on the canvas myself using my imagination. Thus making me the true artist. Now give me my 20 million.

[@KaisoArt]

EXAC t ly

[@dandoodle6710]

Good luck

[@ChaosShake94]

I am doing that on a wall at home right now. It is amazing how a teal lemur can just appear out of nowhere on a yellow wall.

[@1stNightingale]

This is the biggest point. I have no respect for these people as artists. They are as good as spiritualists giving vague quotes that imply something. It's as much of an artform as horoscopes.

[@DjJooze]

Kathleen Xo = Golddigger

[@BoyMan451]

They made sure that everyone could pass art class after WW2

[@padmajagannathan1148]

😂😂😂

[@sailorquestion3229]

The last dude who couldn't even enter art class made school shootings seem like tea parties

[@chloerabbitheart3129]

@@sailorquestion3229 yeah he overdid it

[@saikatsen441]

So dope!

[@orionbekesi]

you are a genius

[@Coolkid99880]

This has the same feeling as a English teacher wanting to to write a 5 page essay about the sentence “the cat drank milk”

[@samuelstuff4557]

I look at a painting like these every day when I stare at the wall casually and start feeling this emotion as I figure out that the wall is just a wall and doesn’t mean anything

[@zetsubousensei5686]

3:27 "I'm not going to sit there trying to find a meaning in a red Circle on a blank white canvas" Me: dude yo, you are looking at the Japanese flag

[@kjl3080]

Liron Bar hahahaha

[@akirencat]

that’s what i thought ahaha

[@theokepler9484]

See but this is the point: Context

[@krzysztofwozny9458]

@C caymer What's racist about it?

[@detectiveexpressking4078]

C caymer theres a blue painting

[@emperorleachicus2199]

All-white paintings just seem like the emperor’s new clothes to me. I have a textured and varied wall that’s painted white. It’s not worth millions. It’s a white surface. “You may look at it and feel anger, happiness, calmness” - I look at an all-white painting and feel nothing. I look at the price tag and feel anger.

[@alecmcgrathofcanada9175]

This. ^^ God I wish we could send all these glorious comments to that art lady in the video.

[@davidelias13]

Yes

[@cactustactics]

@@alecmcgrathofcanada9175 something ironic about criticising these paintings as worthless, but thinking the same basic thought repeated over and over by hundreds of people is something of value

[@wmurd]

@@cactustactics sorry, you talking about comments repeating same statements or blank canvas art repeating same statements? 🤔

[@cactustactics]

@@wmurd both of 'em

[@tuftyterror983]

“I call this ‘my sanity’” “It’s blank” “Asking for 15 million”

[@Jordanthecool7]

When it comes to art in my opinion, weather simple or truly complex works of art, the person who created the art work adds a lot of value . Not to mention auctions could easily make an art piece much more valuable than it already is just by having people bid against eachother for it.

[@ronneff5894]

It's not a painting. "Anyone can do that... but you didn't." It's because people inherently understand that white paint on a canvas is a wall.

[@Pantano63]

I'll play devil's advocate here and I say that perhaps the FIRST all-white painting had some originality and ideas behind it (I mean, why not?), but the second, the fourth, the 100th one? Pure derivative regurgitated nonsense that tries to pass off as art.

[@CelesQuinn]

I did it in my art class, and guess what, I failed

[@takumijoong6271]

why would j ever buy a canvass just to paint it white, when i can do so much more jfc

[@jennyhughes4474]

@@takumijoong6271 I would never just paint it white but I would use textures (& maybe such subtle colours that you can hardly see them) as ways to depict ideas & forms - rather like plaster or marble relief.

[@jennyhughes4474]

A tiny space of calm amid the chaos of our lives.

[@loathbringer]

“It’s not white, it’s got unique texture” I don’t have the energy to fight that

[@sid98geek]

You can fight them by saying that the unique texture comes from nature and physics of the paint and the canvas. The human had no contribution in making that texture.

[@PrakashCherianmadscientist]

My wall also has unique textures if I look closely enough 😂. Nothing is absolutely uniform.

[@sahilagarwal6601]

isnt the texture from the canvas?

[@nloc1929]

When they said "If looking at a white painting makes you angry, excited, or soothed. Think about why." What if I feel absolutely nothing? This video taught me that people who paint houses are the most prolific artists of our time and should be paid way more

[@nallyaaaaaa]

i just came home from a long jog, i'm just slowly vanishing away the more this video goes on

[@a.mckenna1574]

1st Guy : " Here's my painting" 2nd Guy : " Where l don't see anything in front of me?... Where's the canvas , where's the stand... here's nothing...? " 1st Guy : " You must embrace and visualize in your mind , l went to the store , bought the paint, canvas ,stand and created my masterpiece that's here in front of you"

[@jaded9234]

This video could've just been called "In defense of tax evasion" and called it a day.

[@whyaminotawolf3966]

people are buying blank paintings for millions while other people can't even afford to feed their children... Welcome to Earth.

[@starx8775]

Someone please draw a smiley on it

[@drvoyager9843]

*white paintings, not blank.

[@FrancescaPessarelli]

what device did you type this comment on? look up how it was made and who made it. look up how they live and compare with how you live. i rest my case.

[@lleah2839]

Why am i not a wolf??? Aliens have left the chat

[@ihatealgebra2431]

Just let the poor create the art and let the rich buy it and now ure rich smh simple

[@crookeddesk]

If the whole point of minimalist art is: "You see what you see." Then isn't a plain white canvas nothing more than a plain white canvas? You can't say the whole appeal of minimalist art lies in the fact that "you get what you see" while simultaneously attacking people for not "seeing the meaning behind the art"? That's going against your own point and only proves that you're just throwing around pretentious ideas in a vain attempt to come across better than others...

[@joez6235]

Who's being attacked for not seeing the meaning behind the art? Are people not allowed to make the art they want to make without being accused of "attacking" people who don't like it? All art is pretentious by definition, doesn't mean they're trying to seem better than anyone though. If you don't like it, don't buy it, but at least let people explain what it is about. If you're going to attack the art, don't accuse the people defending the art of "attacking" you back. You are not a victim, stop acting like one.

[@ahumanperson3649]

Joe Z the people who are defending tax evasion and money laundering?

[@joez6235]

@@ahumanperson3649 ...do not exist?

[@ahumanperson3649]

Joe Z well, money laundering and tax evasion is the whole purpose of buying art like this. You didn’t know that?

[@anjo_hn2513]

yet i don’t see anyone attacking people for not “seeing the meaning behind the art.” i just see people hating on minimalist art

[@Garland67]

I really learned a lot from this video and I'm an artist. Well done Vox.

[@oliverdiamond6594]

guy: makes white painting with a green line also guy: it represents the feeling of confusion meddled with by otherworldly gods art fan: beautiful

[@MashZ]

This is basically like writing down some related words on a paper and telling the teacher to imagine the whole essay themselves

[@elim.4204]

student : wHaT yOu SeE iS wHaT yOu SeE teacher : T_T

[@chrono-glitchwaterlily8776]

To be frank, I got an A+ in doing this advice a few months ago when researching about something

[@freespiritedbeing]

Best comment here

[@jessicajnsm]

So...poetry?

[@doublestrokeroll]

Not a logical analogy. Artists aren't "graded" on their work. They're not "assigned" a work with a specific topic. A more accurate analogy would be "this is like a poet righting down a bunch of random words because they like the way they sound together." And yeah...that's art too.

[@summerestrada-garcia5857]

I'm looking at my white wall right now, and I got to say, it looks like I could earn at least 100,000 dollars on it right now.

[@zaboza2011]

Summer Estrada-Garcia you should put a hole in the middle and it'll be worth 40 million

[@marcar19]

And also have some sort of connection to the people in the art scene

[@ritiaggarwal995]

Lol, add some textures.

[@JOSEPHCHARLESCOLIN2024]

lol

[@hiddenlake3820]

Summer Estrada-Garcia me too

[@georgemoshiashvili5485]

As usual, the breathtaking beauty of the museum fits the profundity of the art displayed in it

[@mr.fluffythepekingese2737]

The ceiling of my roof should be in an art museum

[@nvrguru22]

It's not the fact that I paint these that annoys me. It is the fact that even if I did paint them, mine wouldn't be worth anything. People pay for the name of the artist not the art itself

[@adhityarisyad5707]

NVR guru almost exactly like fashion industry, put some some high fashion brand tag on a dress, and it will increase its value million times.

[@buenaventuralosgrandes9266]

agree. everyone only buy branding name not the actual product itself. like if someone offer them to choose between apple iphone or unknown chinese brand smartphone, they'd choose the iphone instantly

[@hthumbs4072]

Yep! That's 100% true! Plus who buys it matters. If the buyer is a respectable collector that actually also validates the art and makes a previously worthless piece now "worth" more.

[@GonzoTehGreat]

NVR guru Just learn to bullshit about how your "black square on a white background" makes you feel then get a friend to hook you up with some clueless rich people. It's who you know, not what you know...

[@jameul363]

Cuz ur indian

[@jgf4224]

"I call this piece, 'The Father' " "But there's nothing there" "Exactly" *Gets 69 millions*

[@David-mf3bn]

Golden

[@ekszentrik]

@@David-mf3bn Nah, black

[@jasonchiu272]

One of the many things that Joker would do to Batman if he knew he was an orphan.

[@turtlesrprettycool3379]

@@ekszentrik nah, green

[@CalvinNoire]

@@jasonchiu272 oh my god... XD XD XD

[@LH62579]

It is human nature to respect and value things that take skill. We admire those who can do what we can't. That's why modern art is so rage inducing.

[@Daniel_WR_Hart]

5:38 I guess the issue is that for the vast majority of people, looking at a white canvas doesn't make you feel anything except for maybe confused

[@ncooty]

I just stare at museum doors. "Pull". So deep, man.

[@GonzoTehGreat]

ncooty Interactive Art is so meaningful! Believe it or not I've also seen doors with the word PUSH instead. Just incredible...

[@lucasnicoara7400]

Sometimes you don't even have to interact with it! It sees your soul and open the door for you right away.

[@Sam-oz8pn]

Lucas Nicoara it's really amazing what Myggles come up with

[@juliee593]

Ikr? Makes you wonder what would happen if you pushed

[@spoopyjhope]

My next painting will be called "Stupism" and it'll be a transparent painting. Can't wait for my $30.4M

[@mstech-gamingandmore1827]

transparent? You're likely to get that $30.4M, you're the first to paint a _transparent_ canvas!

[@thequeenofboba6583]

People will literally use their lives to buy your piece. Can't wait to witness this!

[@ladofsteel3430]

You're way behind. There already is an invisible art museum.... an empty room with empty frames and displays.

[@SunitVosdey]

Reminds me of Pootie Tang's no sound song.

[@hufflepufflez3293]

Okay, okay, but _that_ with a HANDPRINT

[@phantomfeather518]

"What you see is what you see." Wow. So inspirational! Never could've thought of that one

[@Steve_Mazza]

Sherwin and Williams were the true artists.

[@kendalynmurdock4806]

Vox: Mona Lisa is overrated Also vox: This blank canvas is art

[@DanielMartineau]

You’re being more pretentious than the people you’re making fun of here.

[@Monstervolging]

Yet they wonder why nobody likes them

[@chaimco68]

@@DanielMartineau explain what is pretentious about that statement?

[@saggyoldbagpuss1031]

חיים כהן @ Apparently it’s too much to expect more than a white canvas for something to be considered artistic 😅

[@tadhgknight3484]

Daniel Martineau because acknowledging one of the most famous paintings ever is probably better than a white canvas is pretentious. Personally I’m in the camp that both the Mona Lisa and so-called ‘white paintings’ are works of art in their own right, but what Kendalyn Murdock said wasn’t pretentious.

[@victoraquino4590]

imagine being an artist that replicates a beautiful scenery with imagery and symbolism taking around a year to make only costing $5000 while an “artist” that paints all white on a canvas in half a minute earned $20,000,000 from that piece and their excuse is “you could’ve made it but you didnt”

[@DkuroDraws]

@gapple * ah yes I see nothing, M Y F A V O R I T E

[@DkuroDraws]

I like how they tried to protect a painting of nothing. IT ExPREsEs My EmoTIon

[@DkuroDraws]

@gapple * sometimes gates are needed.

[@DkuroDraws]

@gapple * also it's funny how you act like you have the morale high ground.

[@DkuroDraws]

@gapple * since when did I talk about murder, also you're bringing heavy opinion into this. Without restrictions bad things could happen. Ex the restrictions on creating nuclear bombs. It seems you think there shouldn't be restrictions for professional art.

[@F0RLORN]

“I call this piece The Sun.” “Where is the sun?” “It's a close up.”

[@F0RLORN]

If you don't get it, it's because the sun actually appears white. It only looks yellow on earth.

[@bedi09]

This helps a lot. I took my kids to an art museum where we saw a large silk panel with black paint on it.

[@bocaJ930]

“What you see is what you see” Ah yes, this floor here is made of floor.

[@shakirashipslied9721]

What if I'm Blind.

[@shakirashipslied9721]

@バンシーブランク But if I'm Blind and Blind, Am I really Blind while being Blind?

[@antonygonzalez1672]

Shakira's Hips Lied if you are blind then you cannot see.

[@shakirashipslied9721]

@@antonygonzalez1672 Yeah but are you sure.

[@rescune4021]

@@antonygonzalez1672 she can see but shes blind

[@bgsputra7546]

"I call it Bold and Brash" "More like Belongs in The Trash"

[@user-jf7rk9vu4s]

Gold

[@nightshade2826]

Exactly

[@davidjohn_va]

First I draw this face...

[@fumoyuuka3117]

@@davidjohn_va Then I erase some of the detail features

[@davidjohn_va]

@@fumoyuuka3117 and 1,2,3 a.. circle-a thing

[@whyar3y0uga34]

"Isn't this just a blank paper?" "No. Its reverse origami" "3B Dollars."

[@farter101]

If we're going into a realm of minimalism one of my favorite quotes is by Brian Eno regarding his album Ambient 1: Music for Airports. "I wanted to make music that was just as interesting as it was ignorable."

[@David-ui8fs]

“Yes you could do it, but you didn’t” Um yes I did... in kindergarden...

[@akinoreh]

Do what, really? It's blank :D I could cough on a canvas and paint a better picture :D

[@kedarrana2747]

@@akinoreh is your cough pure white? Look closely you'll see different colours. 😂

[@DJUCCS]

@@kedarrana2747 wasnt that Also true with the different whites

[@abrielneaseromero7029]

@@kedarrana2747 OMG they put different whites on the canvas and called it art? That totally means that it should be sold for millions of dollars right? No.

[@chrono-glitchwaterlily8776]

@@adenm8963 XD oh God no

[@haroldgilbert9202]

"It's a white painting" "Oh, but what TYPE of white is it?"

[@dn8601]

Harold Gilbert "its a strong white with a bit of white in the corner and that really dark shade of white with also some white"

[@mbs811]

Harold Gilbert hahahahaha

[@magneticbears4612]

White isn't that hard to make. You don't have to try to select one from a range of coloured whites, it would be much easier to pick a very pure version of titanium dioxide and whack it on the canvas. Ok, some skill in finding the right colour. But then what?!

[@jackfirmin5814]

you got to do it for 50years or so (agnes martin) and actually think about it...and make exhibitions and so on. then maybe someone will recognize you.

[@ilustrado7291]

#fefefe white

[@saldan3985]

"what you see is what you see." "So it's a white canvas?" "No! it's more meaningful than that!"

[@AKAToySoldier]

How did she get a job at a museum? I wouldn't hire her to hold hold my brushes

[@crystalgemstv4609]

You can literally give any piece of art a meaning, just as long as it’s about society. *Draws a black line on a canvas.* “THIS REPRESENTS THE DIVIDE BETWEEN HUMANITY.”

[@ajx9747]

Give this comment 1000+ likes

[@emmal3801]

OY MY GOODNESS HERE IS ALL MY MONEY PLEASE GIVE ME THAT FABULOUS BLACK LINE!!

[@baganzabaganza2826]

CrystalGems TV master

[@ellesse9408]

I will buy it for 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000. $

[@goofybear574]

So damn true

[@kh4lytran567]

“What you see is what you see” Every 60 seconds in Africa, a minute passes

[@silvervixen007]

😂😂

[@harithdanial141]

Most funniest comments lol 😂🤣

[@kishascape]

Together we can stop this! Love bigmantyrone

[@TomCruz54321]

Water is wet.

[@kir69420]

😮 life changing philosophy

[@santino1196]

_Submits white blank canvas_ “What’s the painting called?” Me: *Joe Mama* $1Billion

[@alphaquinon1688]

At my Middle School Practical Final Test, we tasked to made a painting out on a Canvas. And I litteraly made this White "minimalism" painting and litteraly gave a name "Pure". I got a C tough, but it was what I called a pro gamer move

[@vlleano]

all-white paintings is the mumble rap of the hiphop genre.

[@shishirshukla1794]

Tough ask which is worse

[@mrrickstur]

this is even worse than mumble rap. With mumble rap, there's at least a bit of effort. Modern art takes no effort, no talent, and no thinking at all.

[@Spineless-Lobster]

I don’t agree more

[@fatbastard3813]

Mumble rap is great tho. Young thugs changed the game forever

[@Meathead.414]

Mumble rap is in the rap genre

[@lkhlsom]

correction: yes you could make that, but you’re not in the right pretentious circle to succeed

[@kittenmimi5326]

Yup...

[@1boafan]

No ItS tHe ArTiSt FeElInG sPrEaD oN a CaNvAs

[@olivers8597]

well some of the artists mentioned that made those paintings are iconic in the art world and they are seriously influential

[@nothing-jl2dz]

100%

[@kristelphung2407]

This is the equivalent to releasing a song that is 3 min of silence; anyone can do it

[@maggieisme9199]

Unpopular Opinion: I think the really expensive “artworks” are just used to launder money.

[@LostAndFound7991]

facts

[@doid7293]

that is not an unpopular opinion

[@FatKat911]

That is straight facts bro

[@ihtesham_emon]

Student: Here's my art "A cow is eating Grass" Teacher: there's no grass in there : It's eaten by the cow : But there's no cow either : Cow has gone home after eating Grass

[@akunekochan]

I think that's a song or something

[@maxyboyo]

the cow was eaten by _society_

[@whythehelldoineedahandle]

@@maxyboyo and society ran away so no one would notice

[@filmishit]

Welcome

[@filmishit]

Dhamaal

[@noleenafahy]

"yes, you could do it, but you didn't." yes, i did; in kindergarten.

[@arboc89]

Also, "Yes, you could do it, but you didn't." "Yes, I did it, but I'm not famous enough to get noticed."

[@SubscribersWithoutAnySubscribe]

@@arboc89 Yeah, gtfoh with this "it's about the idea" nonsense. It's clearly about the brand of the artist.

[@jym-i491]

You just need to have the personal connections to famous or influential or rich people, or in other words being famous

[@serenalizinnqui8474]

Pulls out a piece of printer paper. "Oh, yeah?!"

[@janhavis.8360]

Infact you have done more than that.

[@staceygruver1969]

As a graduate of the Ringling School of Art and Design with a BFA, I have found that most artists but more so the patrons that buy the art have no clue on the principles of art. That so many individuals have no understanding of Artistic Truth that simple “create art” or to “buy art” on the credibility of either a art historian or a art broker that tells these people what art to buy and why, none of them actually understand the work or even care about the art, it’s simple a object to either gloat about that you own the art piece or to use it as a center piece for business discussions that imply that your are a cultured individual and therefore can be trusted in business ventures. To many students have this illusion that simple because you graduated from a specific Art Institute that the doors are held open for you, but after years at Ringling I have seen to many students that thought that just because their parents could afford to send them to these world class institutions that they in fact are real artists.