ROSAL, EVANS CHRISTIAN V.

1/12/22
STEM-Contemp.Art

1. Define Contemporary Arts. (5 pts)

Art is the means by which we explore, express, understand, and at times, transcend, the
human experience. To study the art of any period is to explore the sensibilities, feelings, means,
awareness, and expression of that period in time. Unlike times past, life has changed rapidly in
the past 100 or more years. Contemporary art reflects the experiences of a rapidly changing life
and a new understanding of the world. While older art celebrated what was, contemporary art
often expresses the science and feelings associated with life in the 20th and 21st centuries, a
time of a rapid and sometimes chaotic life.

The cubists bring out the underlying geometry in all of us just as modern science has
helped us uncover the nature of the universe. Abstract paintings often use color and form to
reflect the feeling or the component parts of visualization— both of which we came to
understand more fully in the 20th century with the emergence of psychology. Studying
contemporary art will enhance your understanding of the time in which you live, it may open a
creative door for you, and best of all, you might have a sudden realization when all things
suddenly make sense in some way that is peaceful, beautiful, and new.

2. How is it different from a traditional art? modern art? (10 pts)

The biggest difference between modern and traditional art is that modern art is going on
now. Apart from that, you can find some aspects of modern art in different historical periods
going back 10,000 years or more. In art history terminology Modern Art, which began around
1900, ended a few decades ago. The art of the past few decades is usually called
Contemporary Art.

Both Modern Art and Contemporary art look, in some ways, similar to art from various
periods in the past. The famous modern art made around 1900 by Picasso and others looks
very similar to some art made 10,000 years ago and also similar to some art being made around
1900 by people in so-called “primitive” societies. The art we usually call traditional is the art
made in Europe from around 1400 to 1900.

Traditional (visual) Art uses symbolic images of people, civilization, objects, and nature
to stir the thoughts and feelings of viewers in ways the artist sees as worthwhile. Modern
(visual) Art uses symbolic shapes and relationships to stir the thoughts and feelings of viewers
in ways the artist sees as worthwhile. Because of this, Traditional Art is often more literal
(photographic?) than Modern Art which tends to be somewhat more conceptual. Still, both are
more often aimed at your heart and soul than at your intellect. Some aim for both

3. Why do you need to study Contemporary Arts? (5 pts)

 Art history helps us to understand the motivations of artists, as well as the political and
societal climate of their time period. The same applies to art now. Studying art made now helps
us to better understand the society surrounding us and others.

An artwork may often be more to do with what the work is about rather than what it looks
like. Contemporary art practice has become an exchange, a juncture, or intervention for a
reflective encounter between the artist and spectator rather than an image or object we expect
to admire. A work can communicate at a different level beyond words. Contemporary Art allows
a viewer to think for themselves, as a conduit, the work offers the viewer scope to fill in the
missing gaps and engage in a new narrative the work might evoke- thus creating dialogue, new
responsibility, and new potential ownership of an idea.