This is an example of how an interesting idea can be a technological success while failing at numerous aspects of execution.

There's often a lot in common between science and art. Practitioners of both fields constantly have to prove their relevance to jaded audiences. Scientists and artists may be equally passionate about the importance of each detail of their work, but too much detail (especially without context!) can derail any relevance. It's a tricky balance. Too much passion and detail is indistinguishable from Time Cube. Lose the detail while keeping the passion and you end up with a TED talk.* Lose the passion but keep the detail and your hard work becomes drab and unpalatable.

I don't mind a bit of pretension but a little goes a long way.

*TED talks have their place. They're essentially sermons, though some are more evangelical than others.