Post Modernism and Contemporary Art

Postmodernism

• Reaction against modernism 

• Covers a wide array of art that was made in the 1970s and beyond 

• Brought by the disillusionment and brutality of the Holocaust 

• Can be made of anything 

• Sometimes incorporates technology 

Contemporary Art

• Art of present

• Started in 1960s as some art movements such as Pop Art were starting to move away from the aesthetics and ideology of the modern period

Important Examples of Postmodern and Contemporary Art forms and styles:

Pop Art (1955 - 1970)

• Daring, simple, and everyday images from contemporary culture 

• Came from advertisements, packaging, comic strips, movie stars, celebrities, etc. 

• Images and subjects from popular culture and products

• Exciting and lively block colors 

• Considered as first postmodernism movements 

• The concept is more important than the artwork itself 

• Andy Warhol 

• Works was highly controversial 

• Interesting style of art

Performance Art (early 1960s - present)

• Art form where artists use their live actions to express their art 

• Overly theatrical 

• Can be seen in oratorical 

• Performances

• Incorporates other media (dance, music, costumes, etc.)

Happening Art 

• Theatrical events created by artists 

• Emerged from the theatrical elements of dada and surrealism 

• Typically took place in an environment or installation created within the gallery 

• They proliferate through 1960s but gave way to performance art

• Uses objects or props

• Allan Kaprow

• Used the term happening for his performance 

• American artist 

Installation Art 

• Revolutionary form 

• Multi dimensional 

• Bold and immersive genre

• Viewers can interact 

• Also involves other senses 

• Arrangement of objects 

Graffiti Art (Street Art)

• Images or text painted usually onto buildings

• Typically using spray paint 

• Controversial contemporary art 

• Rarely seen in galleries and museum

• Considered as vandalism (Illegal)