The main purpose of the current assignment is to discuss one of the works related to the genre of postmodern art. In particular, the following paragraphs will consider one of the visual projects created and conducted by Angie Hiesl – one of the popular artists from Germany. Still, for this paper to provide clearer understanding of the project’s meaning and its value in terms of postmodernism and postmodern art, it is worth discussing the basic definition of postmodernism.
It is necessary reminding that the term “postmodernism” finds its representation not only in visual art, but also in literature, music, architecture, etc. Still, the main focus of this assignment is the visual art according to postmodern canons. Firstly, it should be mentioned that postmodern art aims to contradict its predecessor – modernism in all its forms. Furthermore, postmodernism aims to reject and contrast even the ideas and values modernism has been representing during the age of its massive popularity. Therefore, for postmodern art the movements and forms similar to multimedia, intermedia, conceptual and installation art appear to be fundamental and commonly used, as a result (Bertens and Fokkema, 1997).
Among the number of characteristics and qualities of postmodernism, it is necessary defining the most important that identify a piece of artwork to become associated with postmodern art. These include collage and bricolage, appropriation, simplification and performance art. In addition, the use of words in the art works tends to be central element in this genre along with the overall idea of reinventing, reintroducing and recycling the ideas, themes and stiles of classic and past pieces of art according to the contemporary context. As a result, this genre of art manages to eliminate the barrier between the popular culture, low, high and fine arts (Desmond, 2011).
Having considered the basic details of postmodernism, it appears more than suitable to analyze one of the works of Angie Hiesl mentioned before and her project called “x-times people chair”, in particular. Angie is one of the German artists working in the genre of postmodern art. She was born in 1954 and since 1980s she has been representing her ideas and visions in the visual art of hers (Angiehiesl.de, 2016).
The project “x-times people chair” represents an installation for public spaces; in particular, the locations for this particular performance is the buildings’ facades across the streets of the cities. The form of this performance is simple, it is just a steel white chair mounted on the walls of the buildings across the city streets at a height between 3-5 meters. What is interesting in the performance, people in the age between 60-70 years old sit on these chairs performing casual activities that are more than common for regular people’s everyday lives. They read their daily newspapers, smoke cigarettes, eat or drink something etc. The regular ensemble for this project involved different actors and performers from Amsterdam and Cologne; still, local actors have also been taking part in this performance in different cities across the Europe and Southern America. To this day, the performance has been held in 33 cities across the world, including the North and South America and Western Europe. In addition, it is worth stating that this project reached its 20th anniversary in 2015 (Angiehiesl.de, 2016).
Expressing the importance of life of elder people and literally bringing them to attention for the masses is the main purpose of the project. Such form and representation appears to be both interesting, attractive and, therefore, significant in social terms in addition to its significance in art.
References
Angiehiesl.de, (2016). Angie Hiesl Produktion. [online] Available at: http://www.angiehiesl.de/eng/index.php?page=cat&catid=16 [Accessed 27 Feb. 2016].
Angiehiesl.de, (2016). x-times people chair. [online] Available at: http://angiehiesl.de/eng/index.php?page=cat&catid=19 [Accessed 27 Feb. 2016].
Bertens, J. and Fokkema, D. (1997). International postmodernism. Amsterdam: J. Benjamins.
Desmond, K. (2011). Ideas about art. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell.
