What Is Contemporary Art?
Contemporary art is art done now by currently living artists. As so, it represents the complex concerns that define our varied, global, and fast-changing world.
Through creative work, many modern artists analyze personal cultural identity, present criticisms of societal and institutional frameworks, or even strive to reinvent art itself.
In the process, they frequently pose thought-provoking topics. Curiosity, an openness to new ideas, and a willingness to discourse and debate are the perfect tools with which to approach a piece of contemporary art.
What is contemporary art in historical terms?
The term "contemporary art" refers to artwork that has been created recently and is thus regarded to be "the art now." In addition, it covers art from the middle of the 20th century into the 21st. The usage of the phrase is acceptable at this time.
Since there were so many different art movements occurring throughout that period, it is possible that over time certain eras of art and be redefined. However, for the time being, we will refer to it as "art today," and its scope will embrace the 21st century from the beginning of the term.
Consider that the time referred to as "Medieval Art" spans around one thousand years, and that the "Renaissance Art" period spans approximately two hundred years. Historians usually determine a period's name after the fact, thus it's possible that in the future this era may be referred to by a different name.
The rich history of contemporary art
You may be shocked to learn that contemporary art, which is sometimes referred to as the "art of today," really has a history that spans a considerable amount of time.
Now let us take a good look at some of the most significant artists and movements in its history, so that we can trace their contributions to its development.
Early days of pop art
Pop art is often seen as marking the beginning of contemporary art, which is commonly believed to have emerged as a direct response to earlier modern art trends.
Pop art was pioneered in the decades after World War II in both the United Kingdom and the United States by painters such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.
It is characterized by a focus on depicting the mass culture and rethinking commercial objects in the context of art that is open to the public.
The style was active from the 1950s through the early 1970s, but it was resurrected in the 1980s as Neo-Pop Art courtesy of artists like Jeff Koons.
Photorealism
Artists who practiced the Pop Art style attempted to imitate real-world things via their work. Concurrently, artists who participated in the Photorealism movement attempted to make drawings and paintings that were as realistic as possible.
Photorealists frequently worked from images, which gave them the ability to faithfully imitate faces, landscapes, and other types of iconography. Chuck Close and Gerhard Richter both used this approach in their work often.
The idea of conceptualism
Pop art, in its turn, was essential in the development of concept art, which opposed the concept of art as a product. The notion that underpins a piece of artwork like Mandala art is given priority status in conceptual art.
Some of the most prominent conceptual artists today are Jenny Holzer, Ai Wei Wei, and Damien Hirst.
Although the roots of this experimental movement may be seen in the artwork of the 21st century, it did not become a formal trend until the 1960s and continues to be a significant part of contemporary art even now.
Minimalism
Both minimalism and conceptualism came into being in the 1960s and continue to be influential in the modern world. Both movements "challenged the conventional mechanisms for creating, distributing, and perceiving art," as stated by Tate.
However, what differentiates minimalism from other artistic movements is that its style is so straightforward and abstract that it encourages viewers to react to what they can see rather than what they believe a particular piece of art signifies.
Key figures in the Minimalist art movement include painters Donald Judd, Sol LeWitt, and Dan Flavin.
Performance arts
Performance art is another trend that has its origins in the conceptualist tradition. The 1960s saw the beginning of performance art, which takes a theatrical approach to the creation of art and continues to be popular today.
Although it is an art form that is presented by performers (as the name indicates), the primary purpose of the artistic medium is not to provide entertainment. Instead, the purpose of it is to communicate a concept or a message.
The renowned performance artists Marina Abramovic, Yoko Ono, and Joseph Beuys are all examples of this genre.
The digital age of contemporary art
The development of contemporary art is ongoing, and an increasing number of artists are embracing emerging forms of technology to expand their creative capabilities.
This comprises code-generated art, which may create a wide variety of works, ranging from abstract compositions to vector portraits of the future.
Some artists are taking use of the rapid advancements being made in artificial intelligence to produce hyperrealistic portraits that push the limits of both reality and the artist's ability to imagine it.
Since the year 2020, there has been a rise in the popularity of crypto art, which makes use of the technology behind blockchains.
As a result of the record-breaking sale of the digital artist, Beeple's NFT collage at Christie's for $69 million, an increasing number of artists and organizations that focus on fine art are beginning to see the potential of this medium.
It may have been difficult for digital artists to commercialize their work in the past, but crypto art is making it possible for them to do so.
Because of the recent surge in non-traditional forms of artistic expression, it is now possible for artists who produce transitory works, such as installations, performances, or murals, to be reimbursed and collected in a way that was unheard of in the past.
The future of contemporary art
A great number of contemporary artists are on the rise who are astounding the public with their innovative approaches to art.
In addition to putting their spins on conventional forms of art such as artwork, installation art, and assembly, they have also popularized unexpected forms of art such as intricate designs, origami, and tattoos, demonstrating the limitless possibilities that are available within the all-encompassing genre.
