by David James
You may recall that we have discussed Modernism in these pages as a painting or artwork that exhibits attention to a process of reduction, alert to high ideals and gently bent towards creating a direct experiential gateway to a more Zen like way of seeing. If that describes a modernist, what and who are the postmodernists? Who are these creatures?
We may be forgiven for being so bold as to declare that most new art today is in fact postmodern. Modernism as a cultural ideal with all of its mystery, promise and hope is lost. Like the rebels of Manet and Company, who exhibited in Paris at the Salon De’ Refuse in 1863, this definition from the Tate Gallery of Modern Art clarifies the intentions of the Postmodernists, especially in painting.
Postmodernism can be seen as a reaction against the ideas and values of modernism, as well as a description of the period that followed modernism’s dominance in cultural theory and practice in the early and middle decades of the twentieth century. The term is associated with skepticism, irony and philosophical critiques of the concepts of universal truths and objective reality.
In the late 1960’s, many artists seeking new forms began working in video, performance art, and installations. These new kids on our lawn seemed to be saying: “We are branching out we need to express ourselves, our expression IS our art. Sorry.” We all evolve and grow by being challenged, which is good. By the 1980’s Postmodernism in painting took the art world by storm with painters like Julian Schnabel, Eric Fischl, and Basquiat hitting the big time. This time the academy mimicked the art world. Suddenly representational attempts and “The Figure” were dominant leading to a mountain of bad art made by graduate students who would say in all earnestness, “my art is about the figure.” And? Ok then! Modernism was built on craft, care, vision, and again, high ideals. Postmodern art can come in many forms and at times part of the work is that it does not adhere to craft or traditional painterly values or traditional levels of craft.
The superb news is that today we are in the midst of one of the greatest artistic explosions ever in history and that art is more accessible than ever. Art is everywhere if you seek it out. There are multiple opportunities to see great art right here in Tucson to include: The University of Arizona Museum of Art, The Tucson Museum of Art (currently featuring The Arizona Biennial), the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tucson, and many top-notch commercial galleries, as well as alternative spaces. Our lesson here may be that sometimes, well, a reaction may in fact later lead to a considered and humane response. This makes us good.
Enjoy Art in Tucson valued readers. Make art if you can. Namaste.
For more info on postmodernism, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6rPtmiJ678
