Defining “Contemporary”
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The term “contemporary” connotes the zeitgeist of the current times. This is an interesting concept, as often it takes time to conceptualize what the trend is, and by the time it has been correctly analyzed, there is often a new movement coming to the fore. Nowhere is this more evident than in the realm of art.
It is mind-blowing to consider that the pieces of art that we consider classics were contemporary in their time. And as this cycle continues, our contemporary art, such as abstract expressionism, will undoubtedly be referred to as classic by future generations. With the intrinsic fluidity of temporality, it is a constant struggle for critics and laymen alike to accurately define what is contemporary.