Every now and again you’ll see a news story about art created by a child or even an animal (like a monkey or elephant) that is appraised by supposed art experts as being the work of a genius and opened up for bid at ludicrous amounts of money. This prompts some of us to shake our heads and declare that ‘modern art’ is a sham, since anyone can splash some paint around and sell the result for millions.
There are several things wrong with that idea, the first being the use of the term ‘modern art.’ This is forgivable, of course; art isn’t a series of movements governed by some sort of central art council – it’s a living, breathing thing, and the movements and chapters of art history are only applied later, when time has clarified events. The term ‘modern art’ was applied to artists and their works approximately created during the century between the 1860s and the 1970s – but artists kept evolving and creating after that, and this period was dubbed ‘post-modern.’
However, it’s important to remember that these are not meant to be exact, precise dating mechanisms, but rather descriptions of style and features of the art produced. You can, therefore, create a piece of ‘modern’ or ‘post-modern’ art right now, because it follows a certain accepted set of features. But what about art that is breaking new ground, that is specifically rejecting or transforming the established ideas in modern or post-modern art? A new term has to be used – perhaps Contemporary Art? Which leads to the logical next question: What is contemporary art?
Confusing Terms
It’s okay to be confused. The words modern and contemporary in general usage mean pretty much the same thing, so it’s easy to assume that they mean the same thing in the art world. But in the world of art, these are technical terms that mean different things. The answer to the question ‘What is contemporary art’ is that it’s art being created in the modern day, possibly influenced and based on (or in reaction to) modern and post-modern art, but possibly not.
The best way to think about Contemporary Art is this: It’s art that hasn’t had the time to be classified, studied, and broken down into its inherent features. An art expert can look at a work and tell you if it’s Modern, Post-Modern, or older – because these are now defined movements. It has nothing to do with dates, really – the dates associated with these movements are describing the period in time when those artists would have been considered ‘Contemporary.’ Now that their time has passed, their overall style can be classified into a movement.
In other words, all artists pass through a phase of being contemporary artists. Later, their work is defined into a movement as their relationships to artists who came before them and who were peers and contemporaries are better known.
The Most Personal Art
A more useful answer to the question of ‘What is contemporary art’ might be to put it into a design context. If you’re seeking art to decorate your home, consider this: going with older, established art is often the safer decision for two simple reasons. One, the best examples of the period have been identified and celebrated, and the lesser works have sunk a little further into obscurity, making your choice a little easier. Two, the features of the movement are understood, and you can use a bit of shorthand when making design decisions – for example, Pop Art, a part of the Post-Modern movement, is bold, iconic, and often sarcastic – so you know what you’re bringing into your room.
By contrast, Contemporary Art is alive right now. It is evolving, and no one has yet bottled what it is. You have a very personal and instinctive reaction to contemporary art, because you haven’t been taught how to look at it yet. Even if you have some training and background in the art world, you’ll be working from instinct. That means that putting a print of contemporary art on your walls is perhaps the most personal design decision you can make.
And, after all, you’re designing your own home – those decisions should be personal. Contemporary art can offer you a true expression of how you’re feeling and how you think, without any pollution from so-called experts. We think that’s a powerful thing – take a look at our huge (and growing) collection and see what speaks to you. In our experience, the ideal choice will leap out at you like something you instantly recognise as personal, even though you’ve never seen it before.
