We can easily distinguish Renaissance from Classicism, and Impressionism from Cubism, but is it so easy to understand what contemporary art is?
Contemporary art in its current form was formed at the turn of the 1960s and 70s. The artistic quest of that time can be characterized as a search for alternatives to modernism (this often resulted in denial through the introduction of principles that were directly opposite to modernism). This was expressed in the search for new images, new means and materials of expression, up to the demoterization of the object (performances and happenings). The main goal was to distort the concept of spirituality. Many artists followed the French philosophers who coined the term “postmodernism”. We can say that there has been a shift from the object itself to the process.
The most notable phenomena of the turn of the 1960s and 1970s can be called the development of conceptual art and minimalism. In the 1970s, the social orientation of the art process became noticeably stronger, both in terms of content and composition: The most notable phenomenon of the mid-1970s was feminism in art.
The late 1970s and 1980s were characterized by a weariness of conceptual art and minimalism, and returning of interest in presenting, color, and figurativeness (the heyday of movements such as the New Wild). In the mid-1980s, the rise of movements that actively use images of mass culture — campism, East Village art, neo-pop are gaining strength. The heyday of photography in art also dates back to this time — more and more artists are beginning to turn to it as a means of artistic expression.
The art process was influenced by the development of technology: in the 1960s-video and audio, later computers and in the 1990s — the Internet .
The beginning of the 2000s was marked by disillusionment with the possibilities of technical means for artistic practices. Destructive concepts have done their pernicious work. At the same time, constructive philosophical justifications for contemporary art of the 21th century have not yet appeared. Some artists of the 2000s believe that Modern art is becoming an instrument of power in a “post-democratic” society. This process arouses enthusiasm among representatives of the art system and pessimism among artists and professionals.
A number of artists of the 2000s return to the commodity object, abandoning the process, and offer a commercially profitable attempt at modernism of the 21th century.
Aсcording to the iesa portal, contemporary art —is “the art of today,” more broadly includes artwork produced during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. It generally defines art produced after the Modern Art movement to the present day. However, modern artwork is not just art produced during a specific time-frame. This genre of art does have its own approach or style that distinguishes it from others.
The distinctive features of art include its versatility, timelessness and belonging to the entire human race, its ability to unite and inspire. It is hard to find any canons in this art direction. The definition is quite vague. People can draw classical paintings, mix different textures and conduct amazing performances. A review thrown by a passing person can change the fate of the artist and his exhibition. It is not necessary to get any art degree to be an artist. Instagram, dribble, behance — access to the internet, desire to create or destroy — social media gives the possibilities. That works in both sides and everyone can be an art critic, if he would like to — comments, postsharings, reposts.
What makes today’s art especially challenging is that, like the world around us, it has become more diverse and cannot be easily defined through a list of visual characteristics, artistic themes or cultural concerns.
https://www.iesa.edu/paris/news-events/contemporary-art-definition
