First of all: Do not be misguided by "Modern Art Concepts". There can be some really stupid concepts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artist's_Shit that some people call "Art".
But yes, there are some interesting explorations that can be valid in the area of design.
Here is an interesting question: Whose persona should I consider while designing my portfolio? Where I diferentiate the Person which is important in diferent cases. Mainly a diferent aproach between Art and Design.
In Art, the "Important" Person is the artist that could be or not could be trying to comunicate something.
But in design there are some parctical factors to consider.
1) What message does my client or project try to communicate?
2) Can my reciver decodify that message?
Semiothics
The important word here is Communicate...
Common + icon
And to understand the word icon here we need to study some semiothics.
The idea is that the different participants on the common+icon must understand and share this images, the elements, the symbols. Which could be or not could be in Art.
If your image does not have this intrinsec elements inside, yes it still can function over time by repetition.
My Kids have rarely used a paper folder, but by repetition they understand what a folder is. Most people have never used a wrench or a gear, in fact, with the electronic miniaturization moving parts are less desirable each day. But you could still use a well cultural known images or a Quantum electron jumping from energetic levels based image.
Enough elements to have a style
We also need an aditional charge of elements to have an unified vision with other elements, with other icons of the same style.
Shape. A rounded or square set of icons. Besides the base shape of the icon itself.
Color
Surroundings a background, a negative space.
Details A flat one, a glossy aqua style.