Modern art and contemporary art are two popular categories of art; however, they are often confused. Though the two have similar characteristics, they also have different objectives and techniques.
Modern art is an umbrella term that refers to a period in art history that began in the late 19th century and continued until the 1960s. This period was characterized by the use of industrial materials as a means of expression and was primarily focused on self-expression. It was a time when artists began to break away from traditional modes of expression, such as realism, to explore new ideas. During this time, some of the most influential artists included Pablo Picasso, Paul Cezanne, Wassily Kandinsky, and Henri Matisse.
Contemporary art is a much broader term that refers to artwork produced from the 1960s up until today. It is characterized by its diversity, as it encompasses a wide range of styles and mediums. This includes painting, sculpture, video installation, performance art, photography, digital media, among others. Contemporary artists are often inspired by modernist principles but also explore more experimental forms such as conceptual or postmodernism. Some of the most notable contemporary artists include Damien Hirst, Yayoi Kusama, Jeff Koons and Ai Weiwei.
The main difference between modern art and contemporary art lies in their respective time periods. Modern art was created during a specific period in history while contemporary art encompasses all artwork created since then up until today. Additionally, modernist works tend to be focused on self-expression while contemporary works explore more experimental forms.
Conclusion:
Modern Art and Contemporary Art are two distinct categories of artwork with different objectives and techniques. Though they may appear similar at first glance due to their use of industrial materials for expression purposes; they differ greatly in terms of their time periods and focus on self-expression or experimentation.