What is Contemporary Art:
Contemporary art refers to the set of artistic manifestations that emerged from the 20th century onwards.
As such, the concept of contemporary art is relative to each era. This means that the art produced in any historical period will always be contemporary to its contemporaries. Contemporary was the art of Leonardo da Vinci for those who lived in the 16th century.
However, there are three criteria that are used to determine the moment from which we can call the artistic expressions of our time as contemporary, which are contemporary art and age; contemporary art and avant-garde, and contemporary art and postmodernism. Let’s see.
Art and contemporary age
The dressed majaFrancisco de Goya, 1800-1808
One of the broadest criteria links the beginning of contemporary art with the beginning of the Contemporary Age, at the end of the 18th century with the French Revolution (1789-1799).
In this sense, contemporary art begins with Romanticism, which was characterized by emphasizing freedom, individuality, sentimentality and subjectivity.
See also Contemporary age.
Contemporary art and avant-garde
Another criterion used to consider artistic productions as contemporary manifestations judges as contemporary that art that emerged from the avant-garde emergence at the beginning of the 20th century.
EstateFrida Kahlo, 1943
These artistic proposals were distinguished by presenting, both at a formal and conceptual level, a series of ideas that revolutionized the institution of art, such as the break with traditional models or their critical and experimental nature.
Some contemporary artistic movements of relevance, in this sense, would be Dadaism, Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism, Futurism, Neoplasticism and Surrealism.
See also Avant-garde.
Contemporary art and postmodernism
Mona Lisa with bazooka rocket2010 (left) and Interactive protest against the tear gas eviction of Syrian refugees in the Calais camp2016 (right), BANKSY
Finally, there is a third criterion that takes as its starting point the beginning of Postmodernity (traditionally located between the end of the 60s and the beginning of the 70s) or the end of the Second World War, in 1945.
This contemporary art would be reflected in the second avant-garde wave of the centurymade up of movements such as pop art, new French realism, conceptual art, minimalism and abstract expressionism, as well as hyperrealism, neo-figuration, installations, deconstruction and urban art.
See also:
Contemporary Art Museum
Contemporary art museums are institutions dedicated to the acquisition, conservation and exhibition of artistic collections from relatively recent periods.
For example, in Mexico City there is the University Museum of Contemporary Art, whose collection is made up of works made since 1952, when it was inaugurated.
Likewise, the Museum of Modern Art of Mexico contains a collection of contemporary artistic works, with a catalog that covers the production of Mexican and international artists from the 1930s onwards.
See also Artistic currents.