STEP 1: WHAT IS CONTEMPORARY ART?
Kelly Richman-Abdou, in her October 21, 2022 article for My Modern Met called “What Is Contemporary Art? An In-Depth Look at the Modern-Day Movement” defines Contemporary Art as representing:
In its most basic sense, the term contemporary art refers to art—namely, painting, sculpture, photography, installation, performance, and video art—produced today. Though seemingly simple, the details surrounding this definition are often a bit fuzzy, as different individuals' interpretations of “today” may widely and wildly vary. Therefore, the exact starting point of the genre is still debated; however, many art historians consider the late 1960s or early 1970s (the end of modern art, or modernism) to be an adequate estimate.
Snisarenko defines Contemporary Art as:
“…the art of our times, created in the later half of the 20th century and continuing into the 21st-century. It allows audiences to explore a fresh and dynamic look into today’s society. Artists engage in conversations about the themes relevant to our ever changing world.”
Modern forms of expression include:
Digital / New Media / Video Art
Drawing
Installations / Interventions
Painting
Performance
Photography
Printmaking
Sculpture
Snisarenko also explains how:
“…when engaging with contemporary art, instead of inquiring ‘…is it good?’ or ‘…is it aesthetically pleasing?’, audiences are challenged and invited to further conversation. As a result, contemporary artists may question traditional ideas of how art is defined, what constitutes art, and how art is made, while creating a dialogue with the styles and movements that came before them.”
Video > Turner Contemporary. “What is Contemporary Art? An In-Depth Look & Guide | Turner Contemporary.” YouTube, 23 May 2022.
VIDEO > Contemporary Art Issue. “4 Conditions for an Artwork to be Contemporary (& why artists need to know them).” YouTube, 3 Sep 2023.
A brief history of art…
Snisarenko explained how prior to the 19th Century, artistic production was primarily commissioned by wealthy patrons and institutions like the Church. Artworks depicted religious or mystical scenes with moral stories attached to them.
In the 19th Century artists began creating art that explored their own personal experiences, about topics that interested them. With Sigmund Freud’s publication of his 1899 book, The Interpretation of Dreams, which Wikipedia says is where:
“…the author introduces his theory of the unconscious with respect to dream interpretation, and discusses what would later become the theory of the Oedipus complex. Freud revised the book at least eight times and, in the third edition, added an extensive section which treated dream symbolism very literally, following the influence of Wilhelm Stekel.”
Artists began exploring dreams, symbols, and personal iconography to express their inner experiences, pushing the boundaries of what art could be. Artists experimented with ideas and materials, moving away from realism into creating different realms of abstract imagery.
Contemporary Art emerged out of the foundations laid by Modern Art, which Google Arts & Culture defines as:
“Modern art includes artistic work produced during the period extending roughly from the 1860s to the 1970s, and denotes the styles and philosophies of the art produced during that era. The term is usually associated with art in which the traditions of the past have been thrown aside in a spirit of experimentation. Modern artists experimented with new ways of seeing and with fresh ideas about the nature of materials and functions of art. A tendency away from the narrative, which was characteristic for the traditional arts, toward abstraction is characteristic of much modern art. More recent artistic production is often called contemporary art or postmodern art.”
In my own past Art History courses taken at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Dr Dorothy Barenscott explained that the term Modern Art simply meant “…of the moment,” or “…of the now.”
The Eden Gallery, in there article called, “The Contemporary Art Movement” notes how:
“Contemporary Art means “the art of today,” or art being created in the present. More broadly, it can refer to artworks produced in the late 20th through to early 21st centuries and today.
Contemporary art is generally defined as art made after the Modern Art movement to the present day. However, the line between modern and contemporary art can become blurred because modernist style artwork is not always produced during the specific modern art time frame.
Contemporary art is defined as art that uses modernism's techniques, subjects, and styles. It isn't very easy to explain because it has evolved and will continue to do so. It began as an art movement that emerged in the post-World War II period. It first became prevalent in the 1960s and 1970s.”
Snisarenko notes how with Modern Art, there was a focus on the process of making art rather than being as concerned with the outcome of that process.
Finally, it’s important to note that Snisarenko explains how one misconception exists with Contemporary Art, and that is the idea that Contemporary Art should be avant-garde or shocking in nature to be successful, and this is not always the case “…as long as the artwork being produced reflects it’s time period and is thought provoking.” In the article titled, About Contemporary Art, found on the J Paul Getty website, this idea is explored when it describes how:
“…Questions such as "What is art?" and "What is the function of art?" are relatively new. Creating art that defies viewers' expectations and artistic conventions is a distinctly modern concept. However, artists of all eras are products of their relative cultures and time periods. Contemporary artists are in a position to express themselves and respond to social issues in a way that artists of the past were not able to. When experiencing contemporary art at the Getty Center, viewers use different criteria for judging works of art than criteria used in the past. Instead of asking, "Do I like how this looks?" viewers might ask, "Do I like the idea this artist presents?" Having an open mind goes a long way towards understanding, and even appreciating, the art of our own era.”
Video > Contemporary Art Issue. “Why is Contemporary Art Important?” YouTube, 9 Nov 2021.
Themes of Contemporary Art
Snisarenko explores some themes explored by Contemporary Art, as follows:
IDENTITY > Cindy Sherman (b 1954)
RACE RELATIONS > Faith Ringgold (b 1930)
WAR > JR (b 1983)
OPTIMISM > Jeff Koons (b 1955)
VIDEO > MoMA. “Marina Abramovicć on Cindy Sherman’s Untitled #90 (1981).” YouTube, 19 Jan 2016.
Video > MoMA. “Introducing Virtual Views: Faith Ringgold.” YouTube, 19 Jun 2020.
Video > FRANCE 24 English. “Artistic Resistance on the Ground: France’s JR creates giant portrait for Ukraine • FRANCE 24.” YouTube, 24 Mar 2022.
Video > Vulture. “The Big Picture: Koons’ “Puppy” Deconstructed.” YouTube, 13 Mar 2018.