Many people just don't get contemporary art. They prefer the more classic style of painting where people are depicted as people and items are true to life. They like to understand what is being portrayed and their appreciation is often based on how life-like the picture is and how much attention to detail has been paid.

In contrast, many contemporary painters leave more to the imagination. They concentrate on form and colour rather than aiming for a close likeness. They play with shapes and shades and paint as their mind takes them.

This can be more demanding of the audience as it makes the beholder think about what the picture means rather than it being a reflection of a person or a landscape.

Others find some of the more adventurous pieces of contemporary art pointless and lacking in skill as they really cannot understand how it can be classified as art.

But it also frees up the mind of the beholder as the picture can mean anything they want it to mean. They can appreciate the colours and the shapes exactly how they want to appreciate it and there are no restrictions on their imagination.

Love it or hate it, contemporary art enables us to broaden our horizons and push back the limits of our imagination. Our lives would be far less rich without it.