Abstract Art - how to understand it

Like many people I would love to have studied Art - or gone to Art School - or even done O Level  Art (that's GCSE in old money).  I didn't understand Art much until daughter Fi studied GCSE, A level Art and then an Art Foundation course, when I realised how interesting it could be.

Improvisation 7" [1910] by Wassily Kandinsky. 

from:

http://www.harley.com/art/abstract-art/index.html

I love the colours, shapes, that it could say something to one person and something completely different to another - or even to the same person depending on their perspective at that time.

http://www.keithgarrow.com/abstract-paintings.html

this is random blottings, touched up with doodling.

http://www.learntoart.com/index.php/archives/art-general/understanding-abstract-art/

http://www.artbylt.com/abstract-art-explained.htm

I love the idea of this being practical (you'll never lose your pen again!) and abstract.  

Why should functional items be boring?  (See Alessi citrus juicer)

http://www.art-is-fun.com/understanding-abstract-art.html

A seascape - water running down the shower - looking  into infinity - ?

Why should a picture HAVE to represent anything?  Why can't it just BE.?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTeFPPL81cU&feature=related