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Contemporary Painting Since 1945
Contemporary
painting reveals new techniques, new materials and new pictorial forms –
emerging in parallel or sequence. It spans a range from abstraction to realism,
from purist stylisation to the monumentalization of trivia, from tongue in
cheek revelations of subculture to sober and even visionary presentations of
political or personal trauma.
In the USA,
Pollock and de Kooning developed free abstraction to its zenith. Their abstract
Expressionism has its lyrical counterpart in European informel or Tachisme. The
pictorial statements of Rheinhardr, Newman and Noland are determined by the
quality of colour. The world of the object and the metaphysical qualities of
material are united in the work of Dubuffet and Tapies to symbolistic
assemblages.
Vasarely, with
his decorative, rhythmic grids, is the founder of OP art; Warhol and Lichtenstein
follow on from Jasper Johns and Rauschenberg in elevating the clichés of the
consumer world in to the realms of Pop art, scrutinizing them with an iconical
eye. In the portraits by Bacon or the works of Baselitz, Kiefer and Richter,
the classical paintings once declared dead, seems to find its continuation.
The end of the
Second World War marked a break with the past, whose impact went far beyond the
political dimension alone. It heralded the end of the European hegemony,
dividing the world in to a system of eastern and western power blocks that was
to last for more than forty years. Against
this background artistic life in America ranked for the first time on an equal
footing with art in Europe.
In the post
war years, the western world built up and perfected interactive institutions
and instrumentaria that facilitated the dissemination and popularization of
art: museums and exhibitions, art trade and art criticism. Until the 1970s the art of the Socialist
world was barely acknowledged in the west.
The eastern bloc produced commissioned art that was strongly influenced
by politics; until the end of the 1980s, creative freedom in that part of the
world was possible only in underground movements.
Ever since the
discovery and settlement of America by the Old World, everything considered to
be of higher standard, and that included art – had to be imported from Europe.
Invariably, it was measured by a European yard stick, and all things European
were copied and imitated. America’s
consciousness was defined by the Old World. Paris, the capital city of 19th
century had to share its previously unchallenged position as cultural leader
with other centres after the turn of the century: initially within Europe, with
Berlin, Milan, Vienna and Zurich, and even with such provincial towns as
Weimar, where the avant-garde created its forum at the Bauhaus.
Now after the end
of the Second World War, the situation was entirely different. Although strong artistic personalities and
groups continued to emerge in Europe, new stylistic directions also began to
evolve that were acknowledged everywhere; just as the eyes of the art world had
focused for centuries on Europe, they now turned inwardly to North America. For
a good two decades, it was North America that produced the most exciting
innovations and vibrant impulses for art.
As a world power, the USA developed its own cultural consciousness.
Confident in the power of the industrial society was as boundless as the faith
in the blessings of the American way of life.
Those beliefs were shattered politically in the 1970s, first by Vietnam
and Watergate, then artistically in the 1980s by the advent of Neo
Expressionism “wild” painting.
New York has
been able to maintain its position as international centre of art up to the
present day. The relationship between art and commerce that emerged there has
been taken up elsewhere. This liaison between media and management has made art
as consumable as any mass produced wares, through the enormous profits involved
in art and its surrogates and in art ownership, connoisseurship and
understanding remain the preserve of the elite.
Since 1929 the
Museum of Modern Art and since 1939 the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York
has held exhibitions. Both go beyond their primary function of presenting artworks.
With their wide-ranging activities they have become highly influential cultural
institutions. They heralded a new era of museumship and still have a lasting
influence on artistic activity. A small group of exhibition organisers, museum
curators, critics, academics, patrons and collectors together with the powerful
lobby of the art dealers thus ensure that the latest art is not only accessible
to the public, but is also made attractive through interpretation. The art of the past decades is not neglected,
for it is meant to retain its ideal and material value. Finally the artists themselves have also
turned their eyes to New York. The hustle and bustle of the world’s capital
city seems to create a fertile working atmosphere, for not only do many artists
exhibit here, but they also have their studios in New York.
Wall Art: – Buy with Confidence.
When we consider that art is about emotion and expression it is no surprise that we can achieve spectacular results with the careful placement of wall art. With wall art you can change the ambiance, mood and style of a room by creating a true reflection of your own personal style.
It is important to remember when choosing wall art that your own style is more important than fashion trends. Pick wall art that suits your personality that suits the purpose for which it was chosen. For example do you want sophistication? Are you trying to create the rustic look? Or do you prefer more traditional? Is it a conversation piece you are after, or a mood calmer? Whatever you desire you can be sure that Arts My Passion will have something to suit.
Our canvas art and oil paintings are painted to the highest standards by artists with at least fifteen years experience. We guarantee you won’t get better quality elsewhere. Whatever your room size, whatever your budget, whatever your style, Arts My Passion has it all.
Our wall art ranges from the modern day contemporary canvas art to the reproduction of traditional oil paintings by the great masters. We can produce custom sizes and custom artworks; our limits are infinite.
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