The Role of Contemporary Art in The Modern World

In the last blog, we explored how art acts as a mirror of the human experience. As such, it stands to reason that contemporary art reflects the layers of emotion, identity, and existential contemplation that define modern life.

The age-old quest of artists attempting to encapsulate existence from varying perspectives gives the contemporary artist an impossible challenge. As communities fragment and digital connections replace physical ones, established social structures erode and traditional practices fade, contemporary art has mirrored these transformations.

Contemporary art exists in a space devoid of conventionality where traditional methods of art interpretation are meaningless. This lack of conformity is a byproduct of the ever-changing and fragmented nature of the human experience.

To understand why contemporary art has moved beyond traditional frameworks, it's important to consider the foundation of art interpretation which was laid by Plato, Aristotle, and Plotinus. Plato saw art as a mere imitation of reality, with artists engaging with appearances rather than absolute truths. Aristotle recognized the moral and emotional aspects of art, emphasizing its value in understanding human character. Plotinus, like Aristotle, believed that art was more than just a mere imitation of reality, introducing the notion of art reflecting a higher spiritual beauty, and elevating artistic expression to a sacred and abstract level. While these classical philosophers emphasized a structured interpretation of art, contemporary art reflects the disorder and complexity of the modern world.

In great art, the work is what creates the context. For example, many classical masterpieces the artist use of whitespace, frames, and framing to create a window into the artist's intended context. They invite the viewer to view a purposefully constructed environment, experiencing the context the artist intended. Contemporary art, by contrast, often relies on external narratives and theoretical frameworks to establish its context, diluting the directness and personal connection found in more traditional art forms.

A pivotal concept in contemporary art is “transubstantiation” or the transformation of the ordinary into art solely through its categorization. This idea dates back to Marcel Duchamp's infamous "Fountain," where a urinal was deemed as art, by placing it at an angle. Duchamp's act of renaming and reclassifying the object did not alter its physical appearance but changed its perception and significance.

A modern example of Duchamp's 'Fountain' is MSCHF’s 'Met’s Sink of Theseus,' where the collective replaced an entire bathroom sink from the Metropolitan Museum of Art piece by piece, asking the question, what defines art?

Contemporary art is not defined by its physical attributes but by the intent that surrounds it. Declaring an object as art fills it with meaning, transforming its cultural value.

The absence of meaning in contemporary art is not a failure of artistic expression but a profound reflection of our current reality. Contemporary art has created a safe space for reflection and questioning while stepping out of established norms because our current reality resists such simplification. It challenges us to engage with uncertainty, question our assumptions, and find new ways of making sense of our rapidly changing world - fulfilling art's timeless role of helping us understand ourselves and our place in the world.