Contemporary art couldn’t be correctly described by looking in a dictionary, observing the different branches in which it is expressed, whether it was Op Art, Graffiti, or Body Art, among others. Contemporary art arises after centuries in which there could only be one correct way to create art, which was imposed by schools or by the mentality of the population itself, and any hint of the avant-garde was discarded and imputed, ending up in oblivion. All these small advances, without much success, were the ones that laid, in a certain sense, the foundations of the first works of contemporary art as we know them today.
It can also be said that although as time has advanced, the
mentality regarding contemporary art, that is interpretable and generates
different sensations depending on the person who observes it, contemporary art
has advanced differently in each part of the planet. With the arrival of
Cultural Globalization, made possible by the advancement of communication
technologies, it seems possible to achieve the freedom of art, since the artist
is now able to create and project concepts through extremely radical forms such
as, for example, performances, everyday objects exhibited with a whole load of
social and human meaning that is rarely interpreted by the public as a work of
art. These are works that, apparently, could have been made by a person who
isn’t an artist, address elements that seem to be understood only by art
critics, and deal with topics that the artist didn’t imagine exposing before,
like the use of technology in their productions.
From the point of view of those who don’t enjoy this art,
many think anyone could create a “work of art” even if they didn’t
even know what art means. I think that, although I believe all people can
create their own works of art, only those who really seek to express deeper
meaning and often reaching a personal opinion with their work, without seeking
the approval of a public who, on the contrary, can enjoy that art with a
different meaning than the one thought by the artist, can get to create true
masterpieces.
I also think that any work of art, regardless of the style it uses, to be considered as art, needs three things: The artist, the work of art, and the public. A work of art cannot be considered as such if no one can express their opinion. If a work of art cannot generate a sensation for someone, it cannot be considered art. Either because it is hidden, because it is empty of meaning, or because nobody is able to remember it. A work of art disappears when nobody is aware of it.
Therefore, contemporary art needs to be observed, like any
work of art of other styles, to have its value in sensations. Unlike the
classicism of museums, where each piece has its space where people can observe
the grouped art created over time, contemporary art is global. It can be found
grouped in specialized museums. You can find it on the street that you have
passed so many times or even in your own home. Masterpieces are named in such a
way because they are approved by many people, but all work that is the product
of our creativity, that we create, seeking to capture an idea, opinion,
feeling, that neither it needs to show a clear coherence with what has been
done and that it can be observed, even by the same author, it can be considered
as contemporary art.
