My initial idea for this blog entry was to clear up some ideas people might have about these 2 terms.  

I work in a Modern Art Gallery and Museum, and I have heard people say things like “I don’t like the modern and contemporary art” or “I don’t get modern art” which I completely understand, the ideas and concepts behind Modern art is so different from what we think of when we think of Art. Most people will think of Classical artists and the Masters of the renaissance period. 

But when people say “I don't like contemporary art” it’s said with air of it meaning Modern art, which is a wrong view on the art world, because I guarantee everyone likes a piece of Contemporary Art, but they might not realise it.  

So, what I’d like to do is the clear up there 2 things. When I started, I went a little too deep into the Modern art, where it came from and the history of it, so what I will do is write a more in-depth view of Modern Art or Modernism, for those that are interesting to learn a bit of it’s history. It might also help you to understand past artists, though I don’t hold my breath on the “Modern” art of the now.  

What is Modern Art? 

First, the word Modern; relates to the present or recent times as opposed to the remote past. But when we bring that into the world of art, you have to look at when that time was. Because we currently live about 100 plus year ahead of when the Ideas of Modern art started, so really, we are in a post-Modern art era.  

When looking back we can say the ideas of Modern art as we know it, started to appear in the late 1800’s and in the mid 1950’s hit its most popular point, and remained a leading force in the Art world till about the 1970’s. We can only say roughly because art critics will always debate around dates and what was or wasn’t in fashion. But it gives us an idea of the time period we are looking at and it is focusing on western styles in art, rather than eastern art, which in my view, is now embracing Modern ideas in its own way. 

One other point I would like to raise is the term “Modern Art” or Modernism, was not used by the artists of the time that we now refer to. Many of the styles they used or names they used to refer to their works of art were under the titles of; Neo-plasticism (Piet Mondrian came up with this term), Abstract (Which appeared in Europe in the early 1900’s followed by Abstract Expression in America around the 1930/40’s), Construction Art/Constructionism (Appeared in Russia early 1900’s), Cubism (Picasso) these name a few as a starting point.  

The main subject of their work is what sets them apart. Up to this point most classical art and traditional subjects considered of; Faith, search for or praise to God, Hope and joys of the world and thus the Divine and the search for Beauty. These subjects go far back into our past and resonated with all the wonders that people and artists wished and hoped for. Modern artists however, wanted to look at the everyday, from a person's emotions to using tools and materials that were cutting edge in terms of technology. They also wanted to open the doors of the Arts to include architecture, the written word and crafts such as pottery.   They weren’t all concerned with how attractive a piece of work was, but the meaning they wanted to convey.  

However, due to the complex nature and simplistic styles, many people in both the art world and every day people, could not understand what their art was. After the Second World War however, these ideas became the foundation for the “new world” and thus Modern Art and modern ideals became very important.  

In Britain we saw artists such as Ben Nicholson, Henry Moore, Roger Hilton, Graham Sutherland, Barbara Hepworth and Elizabeth Frink along with a whole wave of other artists appear.  Barbara Hepworth notably went from very little fame or knowledge of her own achievements until after the Second world war where she suddenly became a leading force for female artists on the international seen. From America we see artists such as Rothko, De Kooning and Pollock appear. 

By the 1980’s however the ideas of Modern art have changed, people’s artistic drives also differ greatly to those from the early 1900’s with the change in ideas and concepts about “Modern Art” we see it enter into a Post-Modern era.  

This is a brief, almost crash course into some of the ideas of Modern art.  

What is Contemporary Art? 

Compared to Modern Art, Contemporary art has a similar meaning in that it refers to the present. But it is not limited to any set style, trend or narrative.  

Contemporary literally is active living artists, creators and crafter, musicians etc... if they are alive and working, they fall into this category.  

Within the world of Art, they would also need to be professional, either their main job or they are active in the wider art world.  

So I'm sure, like I said in the beginning, everyone likes something from the Contemporary art world. If you like traditional and classical styles of art, there are artists painting beautiful works that capture nature and beauty at its best, people in search of hope and faith, and everyday people overcoming the hardest of challenges and there are artists recording History as it happens.  

And we have Contemporary Modern artists, people who are looking back at those that started the Modern art trend and drawing on those ideas bringing something to the world that is simple, elegant and functional.  

I hope that this gives you all an insight into these terms and maybe, it clears a few things up for you. As time moves forwards my hope is that news trends and styles will come forwards and refresh the art world.  

All we can do is like the work we like and if you want to find something good in Modern styles of work, that normally you might brush off, I'd say look at when they were made, what was happening at that time? in that place? what have they used to make the work? Because those things influence these artists, and regardless of the subject, sometimes how they created the work is the most interesting.  

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