Crossword Genius

Challenging paintings of rat or tar? (8,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

abstract art

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'tar?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how they can define each other.

'challenging paintings of rat' is the wordplay.
'challenging paintings' becomes 'abstract' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'of' indicates an anagram (the answer comes from or 'of' the letters).
'rat' with letters rearranged gives 'art'.
'abstract'+'art'='ABSTRACT ART'

'or' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for abstract art that I've seen is " Nonrepresentational paintings, sculpture etc".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app