The age old question: What is art?!

So I touched down in Adelaide today after a week partying in Cairns and proceeded to do what any other self respecting culture vulture (guilty) would - visit the museum and the art gallary. I understand and enjoy museums, I get them - they are a way of documenting history and highlighting our ancestry; they are an education. So I pottered around quite happily: stuffed animals - tick, weapons of indigenous tribes - tick, pottery - tick...museum = done. Next was the art gallery. Now I am the first to admit I take to numbers and words more readily then drawing, design or art. I seem to recall my art teacher regarding me as a lost cause. Nevertheless I was determined to go into the gallery with an open mind and happy to learn something. The early works were enjoyable; I am not much of a portrait man ( if I wanted to look at an ancient lady I'd take a glance towards my Aunty Val - sorry Val!)but I enjoyed the landscapes. Again I can appreciate them as a documentation of history as well as for their aesthetic qualities. But this is where all of the enjoyment ceased. As I moved into the modern art section i was confronted with pieces that can only be described as scribbles and doodles. It is probably just me but I am unable to comprehend modern art. Let me show you why - if i was to present this to my former art teacher I am convinced his response would be ' Woodley...what the hell is that?'



Furthermore, if I was then to reply to him "Why sir it is 'Paler than Pale Custard Cream Moonlight Off White Old Ivory Irish Linen Cream Natural Beeswax Cornsilf Falmouth Hawain Sunset Palona Burnous' of course" I doubt very much if I would have ever made it out of the classroom. It looks like the tea stained paper you used to make as a kid to use as ancient scrolls. My 3 year old niece could do a similar job. SO if anyone can explain to me how this can make it into a national gallery please do not hesitate!!