Conceptual Minimalist: Clement Greenberg Édouard Manet

WHAT IS CONTEMPORAY ART? WHAT IS MODERN ART?
If we talk in terms of art history (refer to the aforementioned matrix), contemporary can be defined as
art produced by artist living today.
The picture of a man on the stairs by Xyza Bacani and the painting by HR Ocampo have the same
subject matter; the poor and the ordinary people on the streets.
The photo by Xyza Bacani was shot in Hong Kong where the photographer, who hails from Nueva
Vizcaya, worked as a domestic helper. She used photography to raise awareness about migrant workers and
human rights issues
HR Acampo’s painting (figure 1.2) was painted in the early 1960s. At that time, the painting was
considered contemporary, today, we refer to these works as example of modern art, produced between the
American colonial periods to the post-war period. Some modern artists continue to produce work till today. In
that sense, their works can be described as contemporary, by virtue of being “of the present”. For example, the
national artist Arturo Luz continued to produce paintings in his 90s and well into the 21st. however, as seen in
figure 1.1 the table of “historical overview” his paintings hard edged and minimalist abstract style is associated
with the modern style of the 20th century. The “Contemporary” is therefore a fluid term, and it is use can change
depending on the contexts, in this case historical and stylistic, the modern and contemporary can be used
simultaneously or interchangeable; however, there is also danger of using them carelessly or loosely. Thus, it
is important to know the historical, and stylistic contexts of the terms.
Figure 1.2. The contrast by HR Ocampo figure 1.3. Frugal meal by Cesar Legaspi
There are number of artists- young and senior, alike –who paint in styles associated with modern art.
National artist Victorio Edades is credited for initiating the modern art movement that challenged the neoclassic
style, which was dominant at the time he came home from studying in amerce before the war. The neoclassic
style depicts reality as closely as possible and idealizes it. The modern artists led by Edades challenged what
were described as “conservative” art seen in the works of national artist Fernando Amorsolo and Guillermo
Tolentino. Modern artists do not aim to copy and idealize reality; instead, they change the colors and flatten the
picture instead of creating illusions of depth, nearness, and farness’. Instead of the beautiful and pastoral, they
what might be thought of as “ugly” and unpleasant.
Have you ever wondered about the difference between modern and contemporary art? Or wondered if
there even is a difference between the two? Well, first of all, the two terms are not interchangeable. There is a
difference, and it is based on rough date ranges established by art historians, art critics, curators, art
institutions, and the like, who recognized a distinct shift that took place, marking the end of Modernism and the
beginning of the contemporary age. Modern art is that which was created sometime between the 1860s
(some say the 1880s) and the late 1960s (some say only through the 1950s). Art made thereafter
(e.g., conceptual, minimalist, postmodern, feminist) is considered contemporary.
Beyond the time frames, there are conceptual and aesthetic differences between the two phases. Art
was called “modern” because it did not build on what came before it or rely on the teachings of the art
academies. Many art historians, notably art critic Clement Greenberg, consider Édouard Manet to have been
the first modern artist not only because he was depicting scenes of modern life but also because he broke with
tradition when he made no attempt to mimic the real world by way of perspective tricks. He, instead, drew
attention to the fact that his work of art was simply paint on a flat canvas and that it was made by using a paint
brush, a paint brush that sometimes left its mark on the surface of the composition. While this shocked
audiences and critics, it inspired his peers and the next several generations of artists, each of which, whether
in abstract works or representational, experimented with how to draw more attention to their medium (think
nearly a century later to Mark Rothko). Modern art encompasses numerous
movements: Impressionism, Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism, to name just a few.
Contemporary art means art of the moment, but defining it beyond that and its open-ended date range
is challenging, as the very notion of defining art became a personal quest in the hands of each artist, which
resulted in ever-expanding possibilities. A key distinction between modern and contemporary art was a
shift in focus away from aesthetic beauty to the underlying concept of the work (conceptual art and
performance art are good examples). The end result of a work of contemporary art became less important
than the process by which the artist arrived there, a process that now sometimes required participation on the
part of the audience. So, the next time you are at a cocktail party and someone starts talking about modern art,
you’ll know not to pipe up about your favorite Jeff Koons inflated dog sculpture.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTEMPORARY ART
Since 1950s, artists have experimented on a variety of techniques and different ways of expressing
their emotions, perceptions, ideas, ideology, and other things that could be expressed through ART
If you check the art timeline, you will realize that from the 1950’s through 2000s, there are more 100
styles and movements. Some of the famous ones are abstract expressionism, kinetic art, op art,
performance art, environmental art, feminist art, post-minimalism, video art, postmodern art, body art
and digital art
INTERNATIONAL ARTIST
Artist like Jackson Pollock, marcel Duchamp, Vassily Kandinsky, Andy Warhol, henry moore, and henry
matisse were identified with contemporary art because their styles and ways of art making are very different
from traditional ways
PHILIPPINE ARTIST
 Vicorio edades
 Carlos “botong” Francisco
 Galo ocampo
 Romeo tabuenas
 Hernando ocampo
 Vicente Manansala
 Cesar Legaspi
 victorio edades was the first to break the rules of art. He did not show natural forms nor perspective
and use bold strokes and colors.
 Carlos “botong” ocampo and galo ocampo the early contemporary artist were influenced by western
artist. Abstraction, expressionism, and surrealism were evident in their paintings
 Romeo tabuena’s painting, the heavy black carabao is shown standing on thin legs that disappear in a
flat background.
 Hernando ocampo used geometric forms in strong red colors overlapping with shades of yellow to
brown.
 Vicente Manansala painted in abstract cubism his human forms engaged in genre such as those in his
market scene.
 Cesar Legaspi used his art as acommentary to the state of hard labor in the Philippines. He employed
transparent cubism with a lot of flowing lines that give movement to this human forms.
Today, hundreds of contemporary artists are found in the 17 regions of the Philippines. Their arts can be
grouped according to visual and performance art and crafts.
ANOTHER CHARACTERISTICS
Contemporary art is not confined to the museum. They are also found in galleries, art schools, side
streets, and public spaces like the train or bus stations, shopping centers, or parks
Example of performance art By Nicolas aca
The practice of selling paintings has also changed in contemporary art.

Example: many installation artworks are intended for display only in a particular setting and for a given
span of time. Then they are de-constructed and cannot be repeated nor sold. Many artworks are posted online.
This means that anyone who has access to the internet can view the artwork and actually purchase it. This
makes it possible for somebody in Germany purchase an artwork of an artist who is in the Philippines.
May contemporary artists are self-taught and did not have formal education. Access to different kinds of
materials that were originally use only for construction. For example Cebu artist Mona Alcudia uses paper to
produce solid forms.
In architecture, different shapes and forms have emerged as a result of the use of different materials. Example:
pueblo Por la playa.
It also surprising to find contemporary artists who employ the help of fabricators, carpenters,
electricians, or welders in “constructing” their artworks. This is practiced by conceptual artists who principles of
physics and the technology of construction to form their artworks. Some gather “found objects” and put this
together in a certain way to express their statement regarding an issue or disturbing reality that they are
reacting to.
 Originality is not an issue in contemporary art. An artist can get another artist’s work and add to it,
redesign or interpret it using other materials
 What is essential to contemporary artist therefore, Is the process of art-making.
 Given these characteristics, it can be said that contemporary art is statement that an artist makes
about life, thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and many other things that define human life

Conceptual Minimalist: Clement Greenberg Édouard Manet

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What are some characteristics of contemporary art?

What are some examples of contemporary art movements mentioned in the text?

WHAT IS CONTEMPORAY ART? WHAT IS MODERN ART?

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTEMPORARY ART

The practice of selling paintings has also changed in contemporary art.

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