Is Contemporary Art and Modern the Same?

Art|Modern Art

Contemporary art and modern art are often used interchangeably in the art world, but there are actually distinct differences between them. Modern art refers to the period of time from the late 1800s to the 1970s and is characterized by its move away from traditional, realistic forms of painting and sculpture towards experimental, abstract works.

Contemporary art, on the other hand, is defined as the artwork made since the 1970s up to the present day. It encompasses a wide range of mediums including photography, performance art, and conceptual artwork.

Modern art was driven by a desire to break away from traditional methods of creating visual artwork. Artists such as Picasso and Kandinsky revolutionized what constituted a work of art with their bright colors, abstract shapes and lack of realism. This era saw artists experimenting with new materials and techniques in order to express their ideas in an unconventional way.

Contemporary artists continue to push boundaries in terms of what can be considered a work of art, often incorporating mixed media or found objects. The concept behind each piece is often more important than its execution or even its physical form. Performance artists use their body as an artistic medium while digital artists create virtual reality works that exist only in cyberspace.

The main difference between contemporary and modern art lies in the time frame they cover; modern refers to artwork created before 1970 while contemporary covers work made afterwards. Although they both break away from traditional forms of visual expression, modern art was more concerned with expressing personal emotions while contemporary works often take on sociopolitical issues or comment on technology’s role in our lives.

In conclusion, it is clear that although contemporary and modern art share similar characteristics such as abstract forms and unconventional materials and techniques, there are fundamental differences between them that distinguish one era from another. Contemporary works often explore more complex themes related to technology or society while modern pieces were more focused on individual expression.

Is Contemporary Art and Modern the Same?

No, contemporary and modern art are not the same; though they both break away from traditional forms of visual expression, they have different time frames which determine their focus – modern being before 1970 while contemporary occurs afterwards – as well as different conceptual interests which set them apart.