Art chronicles people’s perception and experience of themselves, their environment and the world at large. The imagery created in the past and present, in one form or the other, depicts reality as it is or as it is perceived. The practice of creating images will continue to evolve and bring about different forms of art. Art of this time reflects the concerns of this time. It embraces an eclectic range of styles, strategies and techniques.
The ability to analyze the context of contemporary art enhances one’s appreciation of the art of this time. It moves the evaluation of art beyond first impressions. This helps viewers identify the philosophies, ideas, methods and techniques, as well as social and psychological elements embodied in an artwork.
What does it mean for Art to be Contemporary?
Art of this time is created within this era. However, precise delineations of this art to specific periods are often subject to varied interpretations. One of the reasons contemporary art is difficult to define is because it encompasses several styles and serves multiple functions. Also, artists have the freedom to experiment with several media and still be legitimate.
There is a renewed interest in and acceptance of interdisciplinary practices in contemporary art. Therefore, a work may encompass elements of:
- installation
- performance
- body art
- video
- digital art
Contemporary art presents endless possibilities to artists. This explains the bewildering array of images in contemporary art.
Context and Art
When you have little to no context about a work of art, you can only make one kind of interpretation about it. But if you are given any kind of context about a work of art, for example:
- the artist’s life and environment
- the art materials and techniques used
- the subject of the work
- when it was created
then your interpretation can vary greatly.
Like other works of art, a painting can represent different things based on the context given. For example, a painting that represents a common, perhaps mundane, household object can represent a lot of things. It can represent an individual’s or a family’s memory or history, or it can be representing something related to consumerism or current changes in the culture or way of life.
Different kinds of context can be useful, for example looking at the different artistic practices and ideologies related to a specific artist. One way to do this is by looking at the artists represented by Hammond Raffetto Art.
Although art can be interpreted in so many ways, there are ways to interpret art in correct and acceptable ways. Many of the accepted ways are based on the description given by the artist or by historians. For example, the description of a work and the ideas of the artist can provide ways of looking at and interpreting art. Personal responses and ways of looking at art can vary greatly, and this is acceptable.
Recognizing Traditional Techniques in Contemporary Art
Resistance to new techniques is common among many artists. Although the major artistic movements of the 20th century were often accompanied by the development of new techniques of artistic expression, especially in the field of painting, the majority of contemporary artists have proven their ability to effectively express themselves by using well-established techniques.
Sometimes the main difficulty faced by an artist is to find an appropriate context for the expression of his/her feelings and ideas through the use of a pre-established technique.
The language of art has always embraced traditional materials and techniques as well as innovations and new languages. The ambiguous realm between these polarities is probably the reason that interests, values, and attitudes of spectators differ in appreciating the same work of contemporary art.
Process and Materials
An artist’s choices regarding the materials to be used in a work of art reflect the artist’s preferences and impose various constraints on the execution of the work. Consequently, the material determines the artwork to a great extent. The largest canvas might constrain the artists to think and work small. Other artists might prefer to think small, and work big. Each material, whether paper, paint, cloth, metal, wood, or something else, suggests various possibilities and limitations regarding the work that is to be created.
This can help increase enjoyment during gallery outings. Rather than focusing on one type of question (i.e. “What does this mean?”), students can direct their questions to different, but related areas (i.e. “What materials were used and why?” and “How did the artist create this work?”).
Artists regularly capture, and in the process, archive the associated norms of civilization. From projecting social bias and making value judgments, artists capture and reflect their own times. Artists sometimes unwittingly document their surroundings and context.
Always keen to draw attention to important social issues of their times, today’s artists provide critiques on issues ranging from:
- social justice
- the information and digital age
- the state of the environment
- genetic engineering
- international migration
- social dislocation
Some artists interrogate and interpret the urban and rural conditions of the environment, and the disjuncture between country and city.
In the realm of aesthetic theory, it is not necessary for art to answer or address a given question, to answer a different question. A work of art can inspire speculation in the mind of the viewer and help them to encounter a matter from a different viewpoint.
An Introduction to Art Critique
New art aficionados are often flustered by the thought of critiquing artwork. However, it’s important to remember that formal training in art is not a prerequisite to analyzing artwork. In fact, there are many straightforward, open-ended questions that prompt a more in-depth look at an artwork. A few examples are as follows:
- What is your initial reaction to the artwork?
- What parts of the artwork draw your attention?
- What do you think the artist has used to create the artwork?
- What kind of artwork do you think this is? Why?
- Is there a title to the artwork? What is it?
- Does the title help you understand the work?
- What is your reaction to the work?
- What do you think about the work in terms of your knowledge of the world?
These questions are a resource for the art viewer interested in digging deeper into an analysis of an artwork. The beauty of these questions is that they differ from the traditional “right” or “wrong” questions.
The Dynamics of Contemporary Aesthetics
The ability to appreciate contemporary art hinges on one’s understanding of recent developments in visual culture. Artists utilize both newly and historically-established techniques to give voice to their artistic visions.
Art can encompass a variety of mediums. The traditions of:
- drawing
- painting
- sculpting
still exist, but, recently, other forms have emerged such as:
- digital art
- installations
There are a number of different locations that house art. While some art can only be found in museums, other works can be found in:
- schools
- parks
- galleries
- other places
The Internet makes art easily accessible and locating art requires little effort.
Because of the varying nature of the art world, historical and critical research can be used to study different works of art. Other times, art may require little to no research to gain understanding. Sometimes, an individual may be able to gain understanding through simple observations and personal opinions.
Understanding techniques and practices of artists and analyzing the context of a work allows individuals to interprets art in a variety of ways. With a passion and interest in art, a viewer can find numerous ideas and understandings that may not be immediately apparent.
