Art is the act of forming ideas, not the product of those ideas. Science-based art is not possible. Art-based science is called basic research. Today’s artist would serve the future well by participating in both basic and applied research.
For contemporary art to be modern, it should be encouraged to push the boundaries of understanding and knowledge. Without creativity, there would not be novelty. Without novelty. there is no progress.
If contemporary art does not reflect novelty, it is craft. If a creative act results in something you intuitively find useless, uninspiring or sophomoric, it’s likely not helping build a better future.
Artists present their work to the public for dialogue and scrutiny. Judging what others create should be encouraged. It is easy to confuse nonsense with sophistication and complexity.