20 Dec Contemporary Art – A Worldwide Guide

The term art may initially conjure images of traditional art forms, such as canvas paintings, to mind, but the term encompasses so much more

The types of artworks considered under the umbrella of contemporary art are, in fact, exceedingly diverse. The seven core categories include paintings, sculptures, and artwork, alongside poetry, literature, music, and dance.

And contemporary art goes beyond just these broad categories.

What is global contemporary artwork?

The words contemporary and modern are synonyms, and many therefore confuse and conflate modern art and contemporary art. While understandable, you should know that contemporary art is not modern art. Simply put, what was once modern is no longer. And what is currently contemporary, one day, will not be.

Global contemporary art refers to pieces of artwork produced after modernism between the latter half of the 20th century and the 21st century. Modern art typically covers artworks crafted between the mid-19th century and the late 20th century (around the 1970s).

Modern art is associated with breaking from tradition and, generally, has a spirit of experimentation. Contemporary art, on the other hand, is seen to lack this central ideology. Some argue that while modern art challenges tradition, contemporary art questions art itself.

Previous art eras have often focused almost entirely on one region. American and European art perspectives for modern art were primarily centered on the west. Today, with contemporary art, there is a shift towards a more global perspective, with pieces of artwork from different regions viewed under the contemporary lens and considered for their impact on the genre at large. It is not limited to one country or part of the world. It is globally influenced and created around cultural and personal identity, community, family, and more.

The shift in the way art today is created and viewed has increased because of globalization. As the world becomes more interconnected across borders and oceans, so does art. Certain areas of the world are known as melting pots of different cultures. New York, for instance, is home to many cultures. Those living or visiting the area can glimpse the unique crossover in the Chelsea Market, where you can find a diverse range of food and artisan jewelry.

Contemporary art features artists of diverse backgrounds and perspectives actively participating in and changing contemporary art. In fact, globalization is so tied to the contemporary that some people refer to contemporary art under the label of global art.

Given the global nature and diverse list of categories that make up international contemporary art, finding an exact definition can be tricky. One thing that unites contemporary artwork is the lack of uniform ideologies or guiding perspectives. Common themes that link contemporary art include diversity, globalization, migration, technology, political critiques, the body, and identity politics.

How does contemporary art differ around the world?

The lack of central guiding philosophy and contemporary art’s diverse and global nature means that artworks often differ worldwide. However, that is not to say that contemporary art depends entirely on its location.

Many contemporary artworks are not the product of one space or culture. Instead, we see combinations dominating the work of artists like Danh Vo, a Vietnamese immigrant who settled in Denmark. Danh Vo’s ‘We the People’ copper replicant of the Statue of Liberty has 250 segments crafted in Shanghai and exhibited globally. The sculpture mimics the liberty of a statue gifted from France, which still possessed foreign colonies at the time, to America, which waged war in Vietnam in a bid against communism.

The world, and its citizens, are becoming ever more closely connected. You can see these connections in all aspects of life, from artwork to food, coffee shops, or social media. Photographs are shared globally by people from all walks of life. Today, sharing platforms like Instagram allow people to show others a glimpse of their life and, often, travels. This has given rise to thoughts of the most Instagrammable cities in the US and across the world.

Interestingly, the rise of ‘Instagrammable’ locations and things may be seen as part of the diversity of contemporary art. Instagram is notorious for its picturesque images and unrealistically perfect portrayals. Its return to more eye-pleasing imagery may be seen as opposing contemporary art pieces like LaToya Ruby Frazier’s 2004 The Notion of Family book. The photography series depicts political indifference to the poverty faced by working-class African Americans around her Pittsburgh home.

What is the most famous contemporary art piece?

While famous is potentially less subjective than best, it is still by no means an easy task to definitively name the most renowned piece of contemporary art. Realistically, answers to questions like these will depend on the person answering. Furthermore, as much as contemporary art is global, answers are still likely to depend on and be swayed by a person’s lived experience, including the cultures and places they have around them.

Arguably, Andy Warhol’s Campbell Soup Cans is one of the most famous pieces, particularly in America and in the pop art movement. This is because the piece speaks to the mass consumer culture so prominent in the US, among other places.

Of course, others may argue that works by Banksy, Takashi Murakami, Louis Bourgeois, Damien Hurst, or other artists are better known or more deserving of being named the most famous.

Each artist represents a unique take and alternative claim to fame. Like Warhol, Takashi Murakami plays with pop art styles and critiques commercialism. Meanwhile, Banksy uses graffiti to showcase his anti-authoritarian artwork in locations globally. Or Damien Hirst, who explores themes of death with dissected and preserved animal carcasses, and whose work leaves many questionings: What is art? His infamous pieces include ‘The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living’ and ‘Mother and Child’, which feature a shark, cow, and calf.

In all its diversity and divisiveness, contemporary art can be found in museums and galleries like the MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art) and in various more obscure and outdoor locations. You may see some pieces and question whether they deserve the title of art. Yet each reveals an exciting insight into our evolving world and ever-changing views of art.