What’s the difference between modern and contemporary art? There are many movements in art history, and each one influences the next in a continuous conversation about criticism and innovation. Contemporary art emerged after modern art. According to the majority of art historians and critics, modern art in the West started in the 1860s and lasted until the 1960s. On the other hand, art created in the present day is referred to as contemporary art. However, defining what the "present day" actually implies might be challenging.
Modern and Contemporary Art
Leo Tolstoy rejected the notion that art is just the representation of beautiful. Rather, Tolstoy thought that the purpose of art—its capacity to convey emotions—should be the basis for understanding it. Numerous movements and styles, such as pop art, abstract expressionism, cubism, futurism, and many more, were influenced by modern art. Contrarily, contemporary art is usually less clearly defined than the former. The most prevalent description of this style is that it belongs to artists who are currently active today.
There is some social impact from contemporary art. Furthermore, modern artists are free and have a critical opportunity to experiment with many styles. Modern artists, on the other hand, are more likely to find the pure idea of art. Though they are a little cautious about art’s immaculateness, contemporary artists are remarkably liberal in their mental states. Contemporary art is renowned for producing experimental works and addressing a wider range of social, political, and economic concerns. All things considered, it created art that reflected the current problems that plague our world, such as discrimination, globalisation, the mistreatment of developing countries, and women’s rights, among many others.
From Representation to Abstraction
The focus of modernism moved from Europe to America after World War II, where abstract expressionism took centre stage. This "art for art's sake" mentality, which had its roots in formalism's theoretical framework and placed an emphasis on form above substance, helped to commodify and objectify artworks. Some artists adopted subversive and disruptive tactics during the twentieth century as a result of their disenchantment with elements of modernism, including the effects of world wars, industrialisation, and military technological breakthroughs. Movements like Dada and Surrealism demonstrated this. As seen by the Expressionist movements Der Blaue Reiter and Die Brücke, others resorted to more intimate and sentimental artistic representations.
Abstract art originated as part of modern art, however, it continues to evolve and influence contemporary art. As abstract art gained popularity during the modern era, artists started to stray from representation, which led to concerns over whether form alone, devoid of clear meaning, could express aesthetic worth. While other non-symbolic art genres, like dance and music, show that aesthetic experiences can exist without direct representation, abstract art questions conventional ideas of beauty. The definition of art itself is still up for debate in modern philosophy. While some contend that art must be linked to past artistic traditions, others maintain that art is anything that people or organisations acknowledge as such. The anti-essentialists and Weitz are among the thinkers who oppose strict definitions, arguing that art should continue to be a flexible idea that can adapt to new and changing forms.
Contemporary Art
Most modern art was produced on canvas but contemporary art can be found in a wider range of media, such as graphical arts, tech-enabled artwork, and object design. Contemporary art can reflect an artist's feelings, offer social commentary, make political remarks, or spark intellectual curiosity, as shown in conceptual art. Dutton and other essentialists contend that while not all works of art share the same qualities, art does have distinguishing traits.
Conceptual painters rejected modernism's principles of historical continuity and critical consensus in favour of emphasising the importance of ideas above tangible objects. The range of artistic options in terms of production, display, and reception expanded during this time. The apparent limitations and restrictions of modernism gave rise to experimental movements like performance art, pop art, minimalism, and fluxus.
Art, Identity, and New Forms of Expression
Environmental art and land art are contemporary art forms. These art firms emerged from growing ecological and environmental concerns. Site-specific art, installation art, socially involved practices, and participatory art were all influenced by a reexamination of the relationship between art and its surroundings, especially when it was displayed outside of conventional museum and gallery settings. Furthermore, the linear, Eurocentric, and male-dominated narrative of art history was contested by feminist and postcolonial discourse, which promoted various views and hybrid practices through its emphasis on identity creation.
Similarly, new media art, another contemporary art, was made possible by technological developments, especially in the areas of film, video, and digital media. Other venues for artistic expression, such as biennials, public art projects, and artist-led initiatives, have emerged as a result of the museum or gallery's decline as the main exhibition location.
Particular philosophical issues are also brought up by the examination of particular art genres. How much an artist should depart from reality is at the heart of the realism vs. abstraction argument in painting. Dance uses just movement to express emotion, while performance art, which became popular in the 1960s, asks viewers to think outside the box. Beyond conventional theatre, dance, and music, this more expansive kind of performance art frequently pushes limits to elicit thought. In her early work Interior Scroll, for instance, Carolee Schneemann performed acts while nude, posing questions regarding society's conceptions of women's bodies. Performance artists regularly utilise their art to question conventions and inspire viewers to consider unorthodox concepts.
Conclusion
The theory of aesthetics has evolved from Tolstoy's focus on emotional transmission to current discussions on the nature and purpose of art. Art continues to be a dynamic force that influences and reflects human experience, whether through scientific investigation, intellectual research, or avant-garde experimentation.