SmART Talk: Modern Art vs Contemporary Art

San Antonio Museum of Art

11 Jun 201402:09

Summary

TLDRIn 'Smart Talk,' the distinction between modern and contemporary art is clarified. Modern art, beginning around the 1860s, marked a shift from traditional art forms to experimentation with abstraction and new 'isms' like Impressionism and Cubism. It emphasized artistic expression and emotion, as seen in Fauvism with Henri Matisse's vibrant use of color. In contrast, contemporary art, from the 1970s to today, explores new mediums like performance and video art and addresses social issues. The video invites viewers to Matisse's exhibition, 'Life in Color,' at the San Antonio Museum of Art, June 14 to September 7, 2014, to deepen their appreciation for modern art.

Takeaways

🎨 Modern art and contemporary art are distinct concepts in the art world, despite both implying 'current' or 'present'.
🏭 Modern art originated around the 1860s, coinciding with the industrial revolution, marking a shift from traditional art forms.
🔍 Modern artists began to experiment with abstraction and new artistic expressions, partly due to the influence of photography which made copying reality less relevant.
🌈 The script mentions various 'isms' in art, such as Impressionism, Symbolism, Cubism, Expressionism, and Futurism, which emerged during the modern art period.
🖌️ Henri Matisse, a prominent Fauvist painter, is highlighted for his expressive use of color, reflecting the artist's feelings about a subject.
📚 Modern art explored different mediums including drawing, painting, and sculpture, breaking away from traditional artistic methods.
🌐 Contemporary art, from the 1970s to the present, has expanded the definition of art to include performance, video, land, installation, and virtual art.
🌟 Contemporary art not only experiments with new mediums but also focuses on addressing social issues, moving beyond aesthetics alone.
📅 The script invites viewers to an exhibition featuring Matisse's work, titled 'Matisse: Life in Color,' running from June 14th to September 7, 2014, at the San Antonio Museum of Art.
📝 For more information about the exhibition, viewers are directed to the museum's website, indicated by 'si Museum or RG 4 slash Matisse'.
💬 The script encourages viewers to share questions, comments, or video ideas in the comments section and to subscribe for more content.

Q & A

What is the main difference between modern art and contemporary art as discussed in the script?
-The main difference lies in the time periods and approaches. Modern art started around the 1860s during the industrial revolution and was characterized by experimentation with abstraction and new 'isms' in art. Contemporary art, on the other hand, began in the 1970s and is known for using new mediums and focusing on social issues.
What does the term 'modern art' refer to in the context of art history?
-In art history, 'modern art' refers to a period that started around the 1860s, characterized by a break from traditional artistic practices and an exploration of abstraction and new artistic styles or 'isms'.
Why did artists during the modern art period start to move away from copying reality?
-With the popularization of photography, artists no longer saw the need to replicate reality in their work, as photographs could capture reality more accurately. This led to more freedom in painting and the exploration of abstraction.
What is one of the key characteristics of Fauvism, as mentioned in the script?
-Fauvism is characterized by the expressive use of color. Artists like Henri Matisse used bright colors to reflect their feelings about a subject, rather than attempting to accurately depict the world around them.
What are some of the artistic 'isms' that emerged during the modern art period?
-Some of the artistic 'isms' that emerged during the modern art period include Impressionism, Symbolism, Cubism, Expressionism, and Futurism.
How does contemporary art differ from modern art in terms of the mediums used?
-Contemporary art differs from modern art by incorporating new mediums such as performance art, video art, land art, installation art, and even virtual art, in addition to traditional mediums like drawing, painting, and sculpture.
What is the focus of contemporary art in addition to the exploration of new mediums?
-In addition to exploring new mediums, contemporary art also focuses more on social issues, reflecting the concerns and themes relevant to the present time.
What is the significance of the exhibition 'Matisse: Life in Color' mentioned in the script?
-The exhibition 'Matisse: Life in Color' is significant as it showcases the work of Henri Matisse, one of the key figures in modern art, particularly known for his contributions to Fauvism and his expressive use of color.
When and where was the 'Matisse: Life in Color' exhibition held according to the script?
-The 'Matisse: Life in Color' exhibition was held from June 14th through September 7, 2014, at the San Antonio Museum of Art.
How can one find more information about the 'Matisse: Life in Color' exhibition or the San Antonio Museum of Art?
-For more information about the 'Matisse: Life in Color' exhibition or the San Antonio Museum of Art, one can visit the museum's website at samuseum.org/Matisse.
What is the script's call to action for viewers who have questions, comments, or video ideas?
-The script encourages viewers to share their questions, comments, or video ideas in the comments section below the video.
How can viewers show their interest in more videos like the one discussed in the script?
-Viewers can express their interest in more videos like the one in the script by hitting the subscribe button to follow the channel.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Modern vs. Contemporary Art: An Introduction

This paragraph introduces the topic of the video, which is the distinction between modern and contemporary art. It clarifies a common misconception that these terms are interchangeable, highlighting that in art history, they represent different periods and movements. The script explains that modern art began around the 1860s during the industrial revolution, marked by a shift away from traditional representational art towards abstraction and experimentation. It mentions the rise of various 'isms' such as Impressionism, Symbolism, Cubism, Expressionism, and Futurism, with a special note on Fauvism and its leading figure, Henri Matisse, known for his expressive use of color.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Modern Art

Modern Art refers to a broad period of art that began in the 1860s, coinciding with the Industrial Revolution. It is characterized by a shift away from traditional artistic styles and the exploration of new techniques and abstractions. In the script, Modern Art is contrasted with Contemporary Art, highlighting its historical significance and the various 'isms' it spawned, such as Impressionism and Cubism.

💡Contemporary Art

Contemporary Art is defined as art created from the 1970s to the present. Unlike Modern Art, it is not just about experimenting with new artistic mediums but also focuses on addressing social issues. The script emphasizes that Contemporary Art uses a variety of new mediums, including performance, video, and virtual art, and is more socially engaged.

💡Abstraction

Abstraction in art refers to the practice of distorting or eliminating recognizable imagery in favor of non-representational forms. The script mentions that with the advent of photography, artists in the Modern Art period began to explore abstraction, moving away from the need to replicate reality.

💡Impressionism

Impressionism is an art movement that emerged in the late 19th century, characterized by small, thin, visible brush strokes and an emphasis on the accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities. It is mentioned in the script as one of the 'isms' that arose during the Modern Art period.

💡Cubism

Cubism is an early 20th-century art movement pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, which fundamentally altered the depiction of three-dimensional forms in art. The script identifies Cubism as part of the Modern Art movement, known for its innovative approach to representing objects from multiple viewpoints.

💡Expressionism

Expressionism is an art movement characterized by the intense use of color and form to express emotion and personal experience. The script briefly touches on Expressionism as one of the many movements that emerged during the Modern Art period.

💡Fauvism

Fauvism is an art style that emerged in the early 20th century, known for its vivid and bold use of color. The script specifically mentions Henri Matisse as a prominent Fauvist painter, highlighting the movement's focus on color to reflect the artist's feelings.

💡Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse was a French artist, renowned for his use of color and his role as a leader of the Fauvism movement. The script uses Matisse as an example of a Modern Art master and mentions an exhibition of his work at the San Antonio Museum of Art.

💡San Antonio Museum of Art

The San Antonio Museum of Art is the venue for the 'Matisse: Life in Color' exhibition, which is mentioned in the script as a place to see the work of Modern Art master Henri Matisse. It serves as an example of how Modern Art can be appreciated in contemporary settings.

💡Performance Art

Performance Art is a medium within Contemporary Art that involves the body of the artist in motion, often in a live setting. The script notes that Contemporary Art has expanded to include performance art, indicating a shift towards more dynamic and interactive forms of expression.

💡Installation Art

Installation Art is a form of Contemporary Art that involves the creation of a site-specific environment, often immersive and interactive. The script mentions installation art as one of the new mediums explored in the Contemporary Art period, emphasizing the experiential aspect of art.

Highlights

Modern art and contemporary art are distinct, despite both implying 'current' or 'present'.

Modern art originated around the 1860s during the industrial revolution.

Artists of the modern era sought to break away from traditional art forms and experiment with abstraction.

The advent of photography influenced modern artists to move away from replicating reality.

Modern art encompassed various 'isms' such as Impressionism, Symbolism, Cubism, Expressionism, and Futurism.

Fauvism, with Henri Matisse as a prominent figure, was characterized by expressive use of color.

Fauvists used bright colors to reflect the artist's emotions about a subject.

Modern art experimented with mediums including drawing, painting, and sculpture.

Contemporary art, from the 1970s to the present, explores new mediums like performance, video, land, installation, and virtual art.

Contemporary art focuses more on social issues in addition to creating new aesthetics.

The difference between modern and contemporary art is significant in terms of time period and artistic approach.

Matisse's work exemplifies modern art, with an exhibition titled 'Matisse: Life in Color' from June 14 to September 7, 2014.

The San Antonio Museum of Art hosted the Matisse exhibition.

For more information on the Matisse exhibition, visit the museum's website.

The video encourages viewers to ask questions, share comments, and suggest video ideas in the comments section.

Subscribing to the channel is appreciated for more content like this.