Latest posts by michael wilson (see all)
- JORDAN RIVER - February 5, 2019
- Inspired Art - August 2, 2018
- Waiting for Inspiration - July 31, 2018
- The Bridge between Painting and Photography - July 31, 2018
Contemporary art as a style goes back as far as Picasso and Kandinsky from the 1050’s. Contemporary art typically refers to art that no longer relies on realistic images for subject matter. I recently visited the showing of abstract art here in San Diego which featured works from Gauguin to works as recent as 1960. These represented a wide range of artists with very different styles. Apparently the show started progressively with Gauguin because he was one of the first to abstract and flatten planes into modular colors. Depth and perspective became less important.
Fortunately artists today can choose from a wide range of styles that can be classified as contemporary art or ‘modern art’. Broadly speaking, any work of art that varies from natural forms and realistic perceptions can be considered contemporary. Technically when an artist purposely abstracts realistic images it would be more accurate to say that they are an abstract painter. This is more narrow, precise way of describing this type of art under the umbrella of Contemporary Art.
It is interesting that work from the 1950’s and even earlier can be classified as contemporary art, along with work produced now in 2014. This broad umbrella of style allows for multiple genres. As an artist who prefers to leave naturalistic images and to explore abstraction there are many varied styles to choose from. With experimentation it is possible to find the style and manner to express your own feelings on canvas. For example we know how different Jackson Pollack is from Rothko or from Kandinsky. There are artists today who have studied these past masters and have developed their own unique expressions.
Contemporary or abstract art is not for everyone. The majority will prefer to view something that is recognizable, something pleasant and bucolic such as the paintings of the commercial artist Kinkaid – the so called ‘painter of light’. Abstract art pursues those realms that are not so easy to identify. They stir up feelings which may run deep but we are not sure why. We have to appreciate those artists who are willing to explore these other dimensions. There is a certain adventure and energy in this type of exploration perhaps because it invokes not only the natural responses but also sub-conscious responses. Translating these sub-conscious responses requires greater sensitivity to our inner feelings. We can sense this thread of exploration even back from the early contemporary, abstract art of the 1950’s. It will be exciting to see what turn the abstract artists of our era produce.