Is It Possible to Define the Contemporary Art?

The claim that art is a unique form to express the beauty was rejected at the beginning of the 20th century. This was confirmed by Marcel Duchamp when he exhibited an old urinal at his art exhibition. It was the first important step into the contemporary art that caused a cultural shock to many people. As a result, anything can be called a work of art. What matters is the space or the place where it is presented. If a work of art is presented at the special hall of exhibition, the object is recognized as art. However, if the same items are put in an abandoned garage, is it no longer a piece of art?

This phenomenon is called relativism in science. We know this word from the theory of Albert Einstein. The traditional concept of art was characterized by constancy, stability, clarity, and the criteria of absolute beauty were even sought. Of course, criteria are not yet clearly defined, but the search is still ongoing. Now, we have many different terms and titles for the objects that are recognized as a work of art such as modern art, contemporary art, conceptual art, and many others. The abundance of names proves that there is no common understanding yet.

Is One Term Enough?

Many attempts to characterize, to describe art, cause a situation of uncertainty. It is impossible to draw dividing lines between those objects or phenomena that society recognizes or rejects. That is why it is said that not everything what is drawn is a painting. Art is a part of society and daily life. The absence of strict lines between the various phenomena covers every part of life. However, it is revealing that people are feeling lost in the past few decades. For many centuries, the knowledge about art was a sign of a good education. According to the statistics, the number of well-educated people has significantly grown up during the past century. So modern people with university degrees and great understanding about the world are not able to recognize art. Sometimes, all they see is a pile of garbage, but they follow the public opinion that is must be a piece of art.

Do ordinary people really understand what contemporary art is or is this kind of art understandable only for experts? There is a theory, but we will not find the clear answers here either. One can try not to rely on the opinion of the majority, but on the opinion of specialists. This theory is given us only more confusion and ambiguity. For example, a picture of Wassily Kandinsky. Is this the kind of work that fascinates visitors to exhibitions and museums? The answer is no. But is this man an artist? The answer is yes.

Is it possible to say what is real and what is temporary? This is possible, but there is no single rule, as a result, it is smart to follow the opinions of experts. Unfortunately, not everyone who talks from a high mountain is an expert. Therefore, don’t lose your critical view. If you don’t like a particular object, it doesn’t mean you can’t understand and appreciate art. The contemporary art can be impressive, but it is quickly forgotten.