Comprehensive Notes on Contemporary Art (Transcript)

The Birth of Contemporary Art

  • Slide title indicates the emergence of Contemporary Art as a distinct period or movement beyond Modern Art.
  • Emphasis on understanding how Contemporary Art defines itself relative to earlier art histories.

How Much Would You Pay?

  • Repeated prompt used to introduce discussions of prices for landmark artworks.
  • Key price data:
    • Mark Rothko, No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red): 186 \; \text{million} (2014)
    • Ang Kiukok, Fishermen: 65.4 \; \text{million} pesos
    • Leonardo da Vinci, Salvator Mundi: 450.3 \; \text{million} (2017)
    • Willem de Kooning, Interchange: 300 \; \text{million} (2015, private sale)

Mark Rothko

  • Artwork: No. 6 (Violet Green and Red)
  • Notes: Associated with Rothko’s color-field abstractions; high-profile auction in 2014 for 186 \; \text{million}.

Ang Kiukok

  • Artwork: Fishermen
  • National Artist for Visual Arts in the Philippines; lifespan: 1931 \; \text{to} \; 2005.
  • Artwork sold for 65.4 \; \text{million} pesos.

Ang Kiukok (bio)

  • National Artist for Visual Arts (March 1, 1931 – May 9, 2005).

Salvator Mundi

  • Meaning: Salvator Mundi is a Latin phrase meaning "Saviour of the World".
  • Artwork: Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci.
  • Sale price: 450.3 \; \text{million} (2017).

Interchange

  • Artwork: Interchange by Willem de Kooning.
  • Sale price: 300 \; \text{million} (2015, private sale).

Learning Objectives (Lessa)

  • Define Art and Contemporary Art.
  • Differentiate Contemporary Art from Modern Art.
  • Discuss the history of Contemporary Art.
  • Identify various contemporary art forms and practices from different regions.

3712 Modern Art vs. Contemporary Art

  • Distinct timelines: Modern Art movements span 1880s–1970s; Contemporary Art begins in the 1970s and continues to present.
  • Core idea: Contemporary Art often engages with postmodern critiques, global perspectives, and varied media beyond traditional painting/sculpture.

What is Art?

  • etymology: from the Latin word "Ars" meaning skill.
  • Definition: A skill of using different materials or media to represent an idea or concept.

3712 Modern Art VS. Contemporary Art (continued)

  • Reiteration of the contrast in definitions and timeframes between Modern and Contemporary Art.

Modern Art Movements (Overview)

  • Listed movements:
    1. Impressionism
    2. Fauvism
    3. Cubism
    4. Expressionism
    5. Surrealism

Impressionism (Key characteristics)

  • A painting style that shows quick, light-filled scenes.
  • Techniques: short brushstrokes to suggest light, color, and movement rather than detailing every element.
  • Example: "Impression, Sunrise" by Claude Monet (1872); depicts the port of Le Havre.

Fauvism (Key characteristics)

  • Known for vibrant, non-naturalistic colors and bold brushwork.
  • Example: "Woman with a Hat" by Henri Matisse (1905).

Cubism (Key characteristics)

  • Breaks subjects into shapes; shows many sides at once.
  • Aims to flatten space using flat, geometric shapes like cubes and triangles.
  • Example: "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" by Pablo Picasso (1907).

Expressionism (Key characteristics)

  • Focus on expressing strong emotions such as fear, sadness, or anger.
  • Visuals: twisted shapes, dark or intense colors.
  • Example: "The Scream" by Edvard Munch (1893).

Surrealism (Key characteristics)

  • Seeks dream-like, fantastical imagery; merges real and unreal elements.
  • Describes a dream world with strange or magical images.
  • Example: "The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dalí (1931); features melting clocks in a dreamlike landscape.

36–37 (Empty/Transitional slides)

  • Note: Some slides appear as placeholders or transitions in the sequence; content focuses on movement names and examples rather than new definitions.

Various Movements or Styles of Contemporary Art

  • List of contemporary movements/styles:
    1. Abstract Expressionism
    2. Kinetic Art
    3. Op Art
    4. Performance Art
    5. Environment Art
    6. Feminist Art
    7. Minimalism
    8. Video Art
    9. Graffiti Art
    10. Postmodern Art
    11. Body Art
    12. Digital Art

Abstract Expressionism

  • A painting style where artists apply paint to express emotions or feelings spontaneously.
  • Figures may be heavy in lines and colors without solid masses.
  • Example: Willem de Kooning, Untitled XXII.

Kinetic Art

  • A sculpture that moves with the wind or is powered by a machine or electricity.

Op Art

  • Art that uses lines or images repeatedly to create optical illusory effects.

Performance Art

  • Combines multiple media and the human body to express ideas live to an audience.
  • Examples: acting, singing, dancing, poetry, music, and even everyday actions transformed into art.

Environment Art

  • Focuses on artistic creation or manipulation of space (landscape/architectural design) that may enclose the audience.
  • Examples include Earthworks and artworks using natural elements (stones, leaves, trees, grass).
  • Example: Ugo Rondinone's Seven Magic Mountains.
  • Notable practitioners: Rob Mulholland (Sculptor and Environmental Artist).

Feminist Art

  • Addresses issues of identity, sexuality, gender roles, equality, and the treatment of women in society.
  • Examples: Susan Bee, Pow! (2014); Pacita Abad, Water of Life; Pacita Abad, L.A Liberty.

Minimalism

  • Emphasizes simplicity, free of unnecessary details, and communicates a specific content or statement.
  • Examples: Tony Smith, Die, a six-foot steel cube; Smoke (dimensions given as 24 ft high, 47 ft long, 33 ft wide).

Video Art

  • Comprises images recorded via video that are viewed on television, computer, or projection screen.

Graffiti Art

  • A form of drawing typically created quickly on walls or other public surfaces.
  • Example works referenced: AG, KKK, Gerilya (2012); Maki-Usisa, Makibaka, Makilahok, Gerilya (2014) with the phrase Makibaka, Makilusisa, Makilahok, Sining.

Postmodern Art

  • Includes practices such as Assemblage Art, Installation Artwork, and Appropriation Art.

Assemblage Art

  • Combines different found objects to create sculpture or artwork.
  • Example: A goat statue with a tire around it by Robert Rauschenberg.

Installation Art

  • Large-scale artworks designed to be entered or experienced by the viewer.
  • Example: Lambat (public art installation) in Bridgetown, Pasig City, Philippines; by Jude Tiotuico, Miguel Aguas, and Vito Selma; a tribute to the Filipino working class symbolizing resilience and grit, depicting a fisherman and fisherwoman casting a net (paglalambat).

Appropriation Art

  • Involves copying or reusing famous images to convey a message.
  • Examples referenced: The Mona Lisa (painted by Leonardo da Vinci); Girl with a Pearl Earring (Johannes Vermeer).

Body Art

  • Uses the human body as medium or primary material.
  • Examples include body painting, tattooing, and piercing.

Digital Art

  • Created with the aid of computers to generate images or designs composed of bits and bytes.
  • Examples: Works that can be printed on paper, tarpaulin, or other media.

Guess the Movement of Art

  • A prompt or exercise to identify movements based on visual or contextual cues.
  • Movements highlighted: SURREALISM, INSTALLATION ART, CUBISM, MINIMALISM.

Summary of Key Movements Tied to Timeframes and Examples

  • Modern Art (1880s–1970s): Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, Expressionism, Surrealism.
  • Contemporary Art (starting in the 1970s to present): Abstract Expressionism, Kinetic Art, Op Art, Performance Art, Environment Art, Feminist Art, Minimalism, Video Art, Graffiti Art, Postmodern Art, Body Art, Digital Art.
  • Some artists and works noted for signaling price benchmarks, national honors, or iconic works (Rothko, Ang Kiukok, Salvator Mundi, Interchange).

Connections and Relevance

  • Price milestones illustrate the enduring market interest in key modern works and artists who bridge modern and contemporary periods.
  • The movement summaries provide foundational understanding for analyzing how artists respond to historical contexts, media innovations, and cultural critiques.
  • The inclusion of regional examples (e.g., Ang Kiukok, Lambat installation in the Philippines) highlights the global expansion of contemporary art beyond Western centers.

Ethical, Philosophical, and Practical Implications

  • Appropriation Art raises questions about authorship, originality, and intellectual property in art.
  • Performance, Environment, and Installation Art emphasize experiential and site-specific practices, challenging traditional museum-focused presentation.
  • Feminist Art foregrounds gender and identity issues, prompting social critique and policy discussions about representation.
  • The art market dynamics (record prices for historic works) intersect with issues of accessibility, cultural value, and conservation.

Notable Names and Works Mentioned (Reference List)

  • Mark Rothko — No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) — 186 \; \text{million} (2014)
  • Ang Kiukok — Fishermen — 65.4 \; \text{million} pesos; National Artist for Visual Arts (1931–2005)
  • Leonardo da Vinci — Salvator Mundi
  • Interchange — Willem de Kooning — 300 \; \text{million} (2015)
  • Seven Magic Mountains — Ugo Rondinone
  • Die — Tony Smith
  • Smoke — Tony Smith
  • Lambat — public art installation in Pasig City, Philippines (Jude Tiotuico, Miguel Aguas, Vito Selma)
  • The Mona Lisa — Leonardo da Vinci
  • Girl with a Pearl Earring — Johannes Vermeer

Observations on Terminology and Dates

  • Modern Art timeframe: 1880s–1970s.
  • Contemporary Art timeframe: 1970s–present.
  • Years tied to landmark works and auctions reflect shifting market valuations and cultural significance.
  • Latin origin of the word art: Ars (skill).

Quick Reference Quick-Quiz Prompts (based on slides)

  • What is the meaning of Salvator Mundi? (Latin: Saviour of the World)
  • Which work is associated with a $450.3$ million sale in 2017? (Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci)
  • Name a contemporary art movement that emphasizes the viewer’s experience within a space. (Environment Art or Installation Art)
  • Which artist is linked to a six-foot cube sculpture titled "Die"? (Tony Smith)

Final Note

  • The material juxtaposes high-priced masterpieces with a broad spectrum of movements and practices, illustrating how contemporary art draws from modern roots while expanding media, ethics, and global perspectives.