Postmodernism

In general, art of the late XX century shifted from the modernistic art movements to very individualistic art. I found that it is harder to categorize and evaluate anything that happened more or less recently. Postmodern era was full of developments and innovations that exposed artists to various technologies and allowed them to experience globalization to the full range. No wander that art became multicultural and got linked to artists’ identity at the same time.

One of my favorites at that time has to be an abstract expressionism. I am not so sure if I would hundred percent agree that only abstract and nonfigurative art is “pure,” but I am passionately against that it meant to push people away. I would rather call it “the naked art,” it invites viewer to fill it with flesh and skin to express emotion. The beauty of nonrepresentational is in viewer’s emotional state at the moment, it works like a mirror: if viewer is depressed he or she would react with an anger or aggression, if viewers are exited they would see happy images like fireworks, rivers and so on.

My absolutely favorite in this period is postmodern architecture. It seems that this very static and old-fashioned area of fine art exploded and start moving. With new technologies, the architects gave buildings absolutely different meaning. Postmodern buildings are telling stories, playing music, hiding in surrounding world like chameleons, standing out of a crowd, buildings-statements, buildings-flowers, buildings-animals, buildings-waterfalls, buildings people and buildings-nations. I think that transformation happened mostly because the architects obtained more freedom both technological and individual.

It is probably easier to say what I do not like, since it seems to me that I am very exited about most of the postmodern art and artist. I do not like pop-art and photo realism, because after seeing such works I do not remember them next morning, they simply do not make me wander. I would be very exited to see the further development of environmental art and performance art. Hopefully, artist finally will digest and master new and upcoming technologies. I imagine a future artist that is intellectual and responsible enough to shape surrounding with his or her works.