Characteristics of Contemporary Art

Characteristics of Contemporary Art

• Contemporary art is not confined to museums.
• Contemporary art is sold through various methods beyond traditional galleries.
• Many contemporary artists are self-taught.
• Contemporary art utilizes a wide array of mediums and materials.
• Contemporary art often involves collaboration with professionals like carpenters, welders, and electricians.
• Originality is not a primary concern in contemporary art.
• The focus is on the process of art making, rather than commercial sale.

Subject Matter

• Contemporary art often challenges viewers to consider "what is it?"
• When technique is the focal point of a work, the technique itself becomes the subject matter.

Styles

• Abstract Expressionism: Expresses emotions and feelings spontaneously through painting.
  • Example: Jose Joya's "Dimensions of Fear"
• Kinetic Art: Sculpture that moves with wind, machinery, or electricity.
  • Example: David Medalla's "Bubble Machine"
• Op Art: Uses lines and imagery to create optical illusions.
  • Example: Constancio Bernardo's "Perpetual Motion"
• Performance Art: Combines various media and the human body for theatrical artistic expression in front of a live audience.
  • Example: Philippine Culture Society's "Performance Art"
• Environment Art: Involves artistic creation and manipulation of space, such as landscapes or architecture, to encompass viewers.
  • Example: Roberto Villanueva's "Cordillera Labyrinth"
• Feminist Art: Addresses societal issues of identity, sexuality, gender roles, equality, and the treatment of women.
  • Example: Pacita Abad's "Filipina: A Racial Identity Crisis"
• Minimalism: Features a stripped-down, pre-fabricated aesthetic with flat surfaces and minimal details.
  • Example: Mario Yrisarry's "Precincts"
• Video Art: Creates images through video recording and displayed on televisions, computers, or projection screens.
  • Example: Mark Salvatus' "Haiku"
• Graffiti Art: Uses spray paint and drawings on walls as a canvas, often found on buildings and streets.
  • Example: Jayo Santiago's "UP Freedom Wall Piece"
• Postmodern Art: Takes modern styles to extremes, frequently combining mixed materials and found objects.
  • Example: Ian Quirante's "Faith and Devotion 1"
• Body Art: Utilizes the human body as the medium or material. Examples include painting, clothing, performance, tattooing, and piercing.
  • Example: Apo Whang-od's "Pambabatok"
• Digital Art: Created with computer-aided imagery and design. Often printed on paper, tarpaulin, or other mediums.
  • Example: David Guerrero's "Tourism Logo"

Techniques

• Collage: Art made by sticking various materials like photographs, paper, and fabric onto a backing.
• Decalcomania: Transferring images and designs from specially prepared paper onto surfaces like glass.
• Decoupage: Decorating surfaces by applying cutouts (paper, etc.) and coating them with multiple layers of finish, such as lacquer or varnish.
• Frottage: Creating a design by rubbing (with a pencil, etc.) over an object placed underneath paper.
• Montage: Rapid succession of images in a motion picture illustrating associations of ideas.
• Trapunto: Decorative quilted design worked through multiple layers of cloth, outlining the design in running stitch and padding it from the underside.

This quiz explores the diverse characteristics and styles of contemporary art. It examines how contemporary art differs from traditional forms, focusing on its mediums, techniques, and the context in which it exists. Test your knowledge on various art movements and their influence on the current art scene.