The contemporary art itself means an art that has been created in the post- WWII period. It appeared after the modern art, which started emerging in the pre-war cubist painting as a way of silencing the hostility (Kraus). However, it has come through a hard process of its establishing, starting from the 1900ies and this process continues till nowadays. The contemporary art may be defined as a philosophical art, which has no shape, which has no rules. It is a type of art, which asks – “What is art?”; however, it still remains as a self-defying kind of art. (Dumbadze, Hudson 1989)
As any other artistic style, or it is better to say – artistic period of time, the contemporary art has its own history and some particular key moments or events that led it to its final establishment on the artistic arena. One of such key moments may surely be such social, political, but mostly cultural phenomenon as the globalization. It is well-known fact that the art of the previous centuries was not available to each and every one, who wanted to enjoy it. During the Middle Ages, the art was even forbidden! That prohibition has made this art desirable, unique and highly valuable. Unlike with those times, as the mid – XX century is mainly characterized by the beginning of the globalization, nowadays, the contemporary art is available to each and every one, who has a desire to see it. That is why, on this stage it is important to determine such period of the Contemporary Art history as the late 1940ies – the 1950ies, which is directly connected with the Pop art – a subtype of the Contemporary Art.
The next period is the 1960ies – a radical and progressive time and the 1970ies – “the age of small, fissiparous radical activist groups that spread across the Western Europe”. (Jones
Amelia 60) During the 1960ies, artists were struck with the idea that the matter of art is in the movement and they tried to populate it. Since the then art has taken control over the movements, conferring them their own, personal and unique sense. Also, it is important to mention that during the 1960s such two popular international artistic trends appeared, as the op art and the kinetic art. The concept of the op art was in usage of the various optical devises, while creating the artwork. Such op devices could be retinal aftereffects that allow the artist to play with shapes, forms and colors, and many other ones. (Jones 42) The kinetic art suggested the usage of electric lights and motors, which also allowed the artists to play with space and movements. Of course, there is no doubt that the Vietnam War has left its trace on the art and it was affected by it. The artists of 1960s – 1970s had responded directly on this event through their artworks, proving the real role of art in general: the outcry, the personal position, etc. Generally speaking, the 1960’s was the period, when artists were playing with shapes, forms, colors and space. In other words – artists had gained a freedom and they were trying to take everything from it. Talking about the 1970s – it was the age, during which artists were getting together into the groups, creating together their masterpieces, however each of the artists was ready to be working by him or herself at any time. It was a time of structuralism, which views art as sacred and because of it art can be expressed through myths, in order to generate the true meaning of something. (Karmel, 22) It was a time of avant-garde – an absolutely new kind of art. (Jones 60) However, even till nowadays, it is clear to understand that American Avant – guard Art needs to have a genuine audience, not a market, art needs understanding not publicity (Rosenberg).
Such period as 1980s – 1990 may be characterized by the emerging of populism. (Dumbadze, 1989) There is no doubt in it, as the 1980 – 1990 was a time, when everything was becoming computerized, consequently, one of the main features of the contemporary art has got proved – it was becoming more and more popularized and available. The 21st century is characterized by the total freedom of mind and imagination. Consequently,
nowadays, the contemporary art is creating interplay between nature, architecture and artworks, which leads to the continuous repetitions. (Grau 298) The artists of the 21st century are combining popularization of art and its uniqueness, which make art to be more specific.
Works cited
Dumbadze, Alexander Blair, and Suzanne Perling Hudson. Contemporary Art: 1989 to the Present. John Wiley & Sons, 2012. Print.
Grau, Oliver, and Thomas Veigl. "Interdependence and Consequence."Imagery in the 21st Century. Cambridge, MA: MIT, 2011. 298. Print.
Jones, Amelia. A Companion to Contemporary Art since 1945. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub., 2006. Print.
Karmel, Pepe. "Jason Pollock: Interview with William Wright." Jackson Pollock: Interviews, Articles, and Reviews. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1999. 20-23. Print.
Kraus, Rosalind. October 9 (1979): 50-60. 10.2307/778321. Web. 3 Mar. 2016. <http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic1050153.files/Grids_Rosalind%20Krauss.pdf>.
Rosenberg, Harold. "Rosenberg, "American Action Painters"" Pooter. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2016. <http://www.pooter.net/intermedia/readings/06.html>.
