Contemporary Art

Modern Art
Neo-Realism
It is common Social Realism tendency to describe
the present as Neoclassic “modern”. Being
modern means being Integrative up to date and
technologically Process-based advanced. Often, being
modern is being Site-specific equated with being
contemporary. Art that Collaborative is new current is also
often referred to as interactive “modern” as opposed
to “traditional” or installation “conservative.” In other
mixed media
words, in everyday parlance, the terms are
performance art
interchangeable.
In this lesson and in the more
detailed history in the next, we will learn that the terms modern and contemporary refer to a vastly different
periods. Modern art is not the same with contemporary art, although they could share some characteristics,
source and influences. As we will come to realize and learn as we go along, it is also possible to integrate and
transform elements from modern art into contemporary art.

WHAT IS CONTEMPORARY ART? IS IT THE SAME AS BEING MODERN?

The first difference between the contemporary and modern is historical and chronological, as the
overview of Philippine art in Lesson 2 will show. Meanwhile the table suggested by arts studies professors
Fajardo and Flores titled “Historical overview of Philippine art” (2002) shows a summary of the periods of
Philippine art from pre-conquest to the contemporary. Please take note that this table includes painting,
sculpture, and architecture only. As you learn more in succeeding lessons you can add on our own data on the
other, like arts, music, dance, literature, and theater.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW: PHILIPPINE ART

FORM Pre- Spanish period American Japanese Postwar republic 70’s contemporary
conquest 1521-1898 period period 1946-1969
1898-1940 1941-45
PAINTING Potter; Religious (icon Landscape, Wartime Modern, Figurative, non-
body, and portraiture, scene conservative, abstract figurative, art for art
adornment, ecclesiastical), genre, interior (aggression, experimental public sake, multimedia,
(figure A) secular still life nationalism, art mixed media,
(portraiture). atrocities, transmedia
(figure B) symbolic,
protest,
aspiration
for peace)
Propaganda
Indigenizing
and
Orientalizing
works,
genre, idyllis
(Amorsolo,
Francisco,
Ocampo)
SCULPTURE Pottery, Santos, Free standing, Wartime Modern, Figurative, non-
carving, furniture, relief, public scene conservative, abstract figurative, art for art
and reliefs, altar (aggression, experimental public sake, multimedia,
woodwork, pieces, nationalism, art mixed media,
metal work jewelry, metal atrocities, transmedia
and work, pieta, symbolic,
expression ornamentation protest,
(figure C) (figure D) aspiration
for peace)
Propaganda
Indigenizing
and
Orientalizing
works,
genre, idyllis
(Amorsolo,
 Francisco,
Ocampo)

ARCHITECTUR Dwellings Church, plaza City planning Public Real estate, safe, Real estate, safe,
E and complex, town parks, works housing, accessories, housing, accessories,
houses, planning, waterfronts, tenements, squatters, tenements, squatters,
shelters, fortification, civic/gov’t convention arch, convention arch,
worship civic buildings structures, commercial/business, commercial/business,
areas, and public works, condos, malls, condos, malls,
official installations, apartment, subdivisions, subdivisions,
residences, private residences, development low cost development low cost
mosque, residences, offices, health housing housing
masjid, commercial and public
state structures, education,
edifices cemeteries, business
(figure E) bridges, chalet
lighthouse

Figure A Figure B

Figure C Figure D Figure E

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
 WHAT ARE THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MODERN ART AND CONTEMPORARY
ART
Modern art came before contemporary art. Most art historians and critics put the beginning of modern art in
the West at around the 1860s, continuing up to the 1960s. Whereas, contemporary art means art made in
the present day.
How does modern art differ from contemporary art?
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.
What are the similarities and differences between modern art and contemporary?
Modern art came before contemporary art. Most art historians and critics put the beginning of modern art in
the West at around the 1860s, continuing up to the 1960s. Whereas, contemporary art means art made in the
present day.
What are the characteristics of modern and contemporary art?
The most prominent feature of contemporary art is the fact that it has no distinct feature or a
single characteristic. It is defined by the artist's ability to innovate and bring out a modern masterpiece
What makes modern art different?
“Modern Art” can simply be described as the style and philosophy of artworks produced during the 1890-1960
era. In other words, the style applied many concepts of Modern Art but it made more emphasis on social,
economic, and political matters.

Carlos Francisco (magpupukot) Fernando amorsolo, fishing scene

Carlos Francisco’s depiction of fishing as a difficult process, while Amorsolo’s rendition emphasizes calm and
placidity. Like Francisco’s Magpupukot (1957), HR Ocampo’s the contrast (1940) cesar Legaspis frugal
meal (undated), Edades the builders (1928) in Victoria edades the builders shows the oppressive condition of
the underprivileged classes. As we shall learn in the historical overview in the next lesson, modern artists like
Romeo Tabuena, Hernando Ocampo, Vicente Manansala, Victor Oteyza, and Ramon Estella and Cesar
Legaspi were actively depicting the social conditions in the aftermath of World War II. Called Neo-Realists by
Critic Aguilar Cruz, these artists depicted society’s problems and challenge the neoclassic rural-pastoral style
associated with Amorsolo and Tolentino. The Social Realists of the seventies are considered heirs of this
tradition.

Social realism continues to influence contemporary artists. For example, Imelda Cajipe-Endaya’s Filipina DH
(1995) is social realist, but the style and medium of the installation is markedly different. Refer to “The stylistic
Overview” for an idea of the difference ins style and medium between modern art and contemporary art.

FIGURE F FIGURE G
Stylistics is the systematic scientific study of the language of literature. It is a branch of applied linguistics. It is
applied to the study of language in literary and non- literary texts. ... Stylistic analysis focuses on the thematic
aspects of literature by analyzing its language.
 WHAT ARE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTEMPORARY ART?
Although contemporary artists like Saudi Ahmad continue to use traditional media such as water color
and oil on canvas, others like Cajipe-Endaya use mixed media. Some works are also site-specefic, meaning
they cannot be experienced in the same way if removed from their original places of exhibit whether in the
galley, out on yhe streets, in the forest, on the interrnet, etc. for example, the band sleepyheads integrate
performance art, theatrically, and indie music in their gigs.
The filmmaker KIdlat Tahimik and his family perform their life as their art and vice versa, as a evident in
the art spaces in Bagui which have become associatedwit a mix of performance, installation, architecture, and
culinary arts. It is hard to separate the artist from his space of practice, and his work. However, the output is
not his alone. The process is collaborative, and the experience is immersive and interactive, such that the art
never complete without the audiences active input.
In lesson 4, we will learn about traditional art, which also adheres to process, community enegagement
ad the inclusion of wider aspects of artistic creation. Such features link traditional art with the current inclination
of some contemporary artsits. Not only do these artists contemporaize the traditional , as seen in the works of
Saudi Ahmad, but they also internalize within their practices the kind of processes associated with the making
and production of traditional art. These are shown in the movement, as the art historian Terry Smith descibes it
“from exterme isolation to total proximity, from individual alienation to complete togetherness, from a personal
particularity to total generality…”
A lot of contemporary art may be collaborative/participative, interactive and process-oriented, meaning
that there is less emphasis on the finished product and a single “author” or creator. This is not always the case
for the other works, however. There is a wide range strategies, media and techniques under the term
“Contemporary Art”. There are works for example that ae done alone by artists in their studious (such as
Ahmad, for example) and are therefore nor working in collaboration with others; there are works that are too
fragile for direct handlingand are not exactly “ interactive,” and so on, and there will be many examples in
subsequent lesson that may or maty not exhibit of these characteristics evenly. Consider the characteristics
outlined in this chapter as starting points toward an understanding and exposure to works that may seem
baffling, or strange, rather than abiding by fixed and unmovable criteria or preconditions that define
contemporary art.

Description Applied to Contemporary Art

There are three elements that constitute description of contemporary art

1. Subject matter-is what you see that is depicted in the artwork.

 It answers the ff.

  *what is the main figure in the artwork?
 *how is the artistic main figure placed within the artistic frame?
 *how do the other figures in the artwork relate to the main figure?

2. Material-is what the artwork is made of.

 It answers the ff.

 *what are the materials or objects used by the artist?

 *do these materials bring out the intended effect of the artist?

 *if the artist chose another materials, do you think the same effect will be achieved? Why?

3. Art elements and principles-refer to the physical qualities of the image.

 It answers the ff.

 *what are the dominant elements in the artwork?

 *how are these used in the artwork?

 *how are line, shape, or volume used within the artistic frame?

 *how are textures, movements, or space used within the artistic frame?

 *what are the unifying features in the artistic composition?

 *are there any variations among the repeated elements?

 *how does the art form appeal to the visual sense?