Lesson 1 Contempo
Lesson 1 Contempo
Lesson 1 Contempo
Learning Outcomes
1. Define art;
2. Identify the elements of art and principles of design in an artwork; and
3. Critique an artwork based on form, content, and context in which it was produced.
CONTEMPORARY ART
Contemporary Art
• It is the art that springs out of the present-day events and passions of the society.
• It is the newest form of art, amusing people from the middle to the late 20th century up to
this very minute.
Modernism
Postmodernism
Contemporary Art
Contemporary Art
• Contemporary art is produced by the 21st century artists living in the postmodern age.
• It functions in a global society that is culturally diverse and technology-oriented.
• For one thing, it provides instances for people to reflect and respond to contemporary social
concerns and issues pertinent to themselves and to the world.
• For another thing, it is a combination of mixed styles, materials, and techniques, and concepts
that challenges tradition. It has gone into the mainstream and into the communities.
• It has become a collaborative process and the audience plays an active role in reacting and
constructing meaning about the work of art.
Why do we have to study contemporary arts?
• It is good to study contemporary arts, because you are surrounded by art in our everyday life, in
mass media, and even in social media.
• You have to understand what they mean and how they affect your life.
• Contemporary art is essential to you not only because it belongs to your time, but it also serves
as a form of expression of the people's present feelings and longings.
• Contemporary works of art are the means through which the artists of today communicate their
sentiments.
• This is understandable; after all, the definition of the words "contemporary" and "modern" is
even the same. In this regard, what makes modern art and contemporary art different from
each other?
• Perhaps the main distinction between modern art and contemporary art is the time period in
which they have existed. Modern art emerged in the late 1800s and continued to grow for more
or less a century. It slowly waned in the middle to late 20th century when postmodernism came
to light.
• Postmodernism then gave birth to what we know now as contemporary art. This art exists up to
this day, and no one knows when a new period will arrive to veil contemporary art in its shadow
• Modern art developed as styles and techniques, whereas contemporary means "with the times"
(con tempo). Thus, contemporary art refers to the art of the present time.
• However, many believe that contemporary art is more socially conscious than modern art,
because more social issues have even realized in the recent decades. Examples of the most
popular contemporary subjects are feminism, globalization, migration, and environmental
concerns.
FEATURES OF POSTMODERNISM
PASTICHE
Postmodernism has several features. The most common feature is pastiche, which refers to
the blurring of division between fine art and commercial art, high culture and low culture, and highbrow
and lowbrow. It also means artistic, musical, and literary works that come from diverse sources -- a
mixture, a medley of different ideas.
There is a sense of fragmentation -- for instance, a narrative does not have to be complete; it
can be open-ended. There is also an interweaving web of stories which creates paradoxes. However,
note that pastiche celebrates the artwork from which it derives inspiration and does not mock it.
Vitruvian Man
BRICOLAGE
The use of words as the central artistic element. In the literary arts, it is the use of varied
sources of writing.
Educated by Rocky Cajigan. 2015. Box Construction (Photo courtesy of Blanc Gallery)
INSTALLATION
Another popular feature includes installation art. It is an art made indoors or outdoors where a
particular space is transformed into a three-dimensional artwork. It is made of diverse materials, using
realistic or abstract style. It is a conceptual art that presents diverse themes, but it is usually temporary.
Shoal by Jose Tence Ruiz, in collaboration with Danilo Ilag-ilag and Jeremy Guiab et al. 2015.
Other features of postmodernism are the recycling of past styles and themes, putting them in a modern-
day context; breaking up barriers between low and pop cultures, fine and high arts, highbrow and
lowbrow. New themes in all the art forms consist of certain socially conscious issues which have arisen
with this period: feminism, consumerism, multiculturalism, globalization, health awareness, migration,
and so on.
BIG IDEA
Philippine contemporary art is a part of culture. As a reader, listener, and viewer, you gain a deeper
knowledge about what the contemporary Filipino artists do or did, and why and how they do or have
done it. In doing so, you get to develop appreciation and gratitude for their artistic endeavors.
References:
Perez, A. (2016) Philippine Contemporary Arts: Expressions and Experimentations. Quezon City. Brilliant
Creations Publishing, Inc.Joya, J. (2018, June 9). Abstract. Mutualart.com; Jose Joya | Abstract (1976) |
MutualArt. https://www.mutualart.com/Artwork/Abstract/622089DD4536FED2Pastiche Practices.
(2015, April 14). Nicole Stevens; Nicole Stevens.
https://nkscomm265.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/pastiche-practices/Museumified - Blanc Gallery.
(2015, September 8). Blanc Gallery. http://blanc.ph/exhibits/gallery-1/museumified-2/Franz Sorilla IV.
(2015). The Philippines Ties A String Around the World. Tatler Asia.
https://www.tatlerasia.com/culture/arts/the-philippines-ties-a-string-around-the-world