Boston’s MOBA
In all of the popular discussions of art in contemporary times, one of the running themes revolved around the artist’s intention. There are some who feel that the intent of the artist is always beside the point, that the meaning is entirely up to the viewer. Other’s feel this is a mix between the creator and the audience, where meaning is determined by complex relationships between the two, but there are always hidden texts that enter the picture without any conscious intention, or even reception. The artistic criteria of the Museum of Bad Art , however, is very clear.
With two locations now, in Dedham and Somerville, MOBA started in a private collection in Boston, in someone’s basement. The locations are still in basements, although there is certainly more room these days, and they are definitely worth visiting. It’s a unique opportunity to escape from the lovely surroundings that a boutique hotel Boston, USA might offer, to get to a lofty space where the worst of art is on display for visual consumption.
They have over 500 pieces of bad art in the collections, with displays that are always revolving. As long as people are making bad art, they can find their home here, although never willingly. The collection will only allow in those works that have a serious intent, and any attempt to make bad art on purpose are simply not allowed.
It’s perhaps odd to admit that seeing bad art can be enormously refreshing, but it is. Gone are the usual pretenses to try to understand why certain pieces are receiving praise, and everyone likes to be a critic. It might be said that this is a collection of paper tigers, waiting like victims to be burned at the stake by willing audiences, but there are also some stunning moments of beauty, too. Even in bad art there are glimpses of another world, where dreams might begrudgingly take flight. For those who can’t get enough, there are bad art gifts to take home, suitable for framing.
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