First thing that most of people think when visiting the art exhibition that full of contemporary artworks is “what is this?” “is it an artwork?”
Hence, they don’t even notice that sometimes they ignore it, or they didn’t even realize that there are an artwork in front of them.
This situation mostly happened in Indonesia, we can’t blame them because they not really understand art, but the irony is when everyone is just confuse about the contemporary art because anything can be art now.
Coming up with a contemporary art definition can be a troublesome task. While the title is simplistic and straightforward, its modern-day meaning is not as clear-cut. Fortunately, understanding what constitutes as “contemporary” is entirely possible once one traces the concept’s history and explores its underlying themes.
In its most basic definition, the term contemporary refers to art; to be specific (installation, photography, sculpture, painting, mix media, performance video art — produced today. Although it seems to be simple, the details surrounding this definition are often bit blurry, as different individuals interpretations of “today” may widely and wildly vary. Therefore, the exact starting point of the genre is still debated; however, many art historians consider the late 1960s (the end of modern art, or modernism) to be an adequate estimate.
There are a lot of contemporary artworks that very unique, sometimes give a chills feeling, but sometimes bizzarre too, let just say from the most famous “fountain” as it’s an avant garde.
One of the most derided and variously received works of the 1990s, ”Everyone I Have Ever Slept With” 1963–1995 by Tracey Emin which was controversial because of its sexual subject matter, although, as the artist explained, that was only part of the concept of the piece.
Even to one of artwork that controversial in Indonesia which the hashtag called #makanmayit is criticized by many people and assumed as making a trauma to the mother or woman. But according to the artist, the artwork is related to her interest in discussing fears with more global things. Starting from small things to discuss something bigger and her question for the fear itself.
But that’s just how why contemporary art sometimes as grey and as blurry to the people, therefore the brilliant thing about the contemporary artworks is when the idea is so strong and that can influence you or even give you some weird or familiar or a sublime feelings.
Some people love to see something that catch their eyes and make them wonder, some people like to capture the beauty in artwork, but the artwork that give you feels and make you think or even influence you is something different.
I’m gonna show you one of the contemporary artwork that really captures me.
Can you see how dazzling is that? The way the lights recreate the sun? and why is someone recreate the sun in the museum? As you keep asking those question you can imagine being there in that museum and staring at them and your body starting to come closer to that sun to see is there something else in that room, and as long as you stare at it, there’s a glimpse of something from your memory about the sun, about the sunset, about the familiar thing, although somehow it is like an amusement park, but there must be something that we missed about this artwork, the simple thing that we sometimes not paying attention enough.
This gigantic installation which in 2003 took over all space in Tate Modern, London. The artwork, a sun rising out of a mist was bound to keep any visitor in awe. In this project named The Weather Project, the Scandinavian artist recreated the sun and the sky to occupy the Turbine Hall.
”The Weather Project” tried to give viewers an illusion of being close to the sun within the clouds but the reality is that a huge semi-circle was hung from a mirrored ceiling which the reflection made look like a full circle. The replica of the space below which could be seen in the ceiling was as a result of the mirrors on the ceiling. The audience made the effects complete as some adults and children were often seen lying down on their backs, staring at the ceiling and making different gestures so they can watch their reflections.
All those persons in the Turbine Hall were seen as small black silhouettes and they were all put against an orange light field. Even if people were minuscule in scale, they were a part of this extraordinary spectacle and unique experience concocted here.
As the artist inspired this artwork from the weather conversation and further to talk about the global warming, the artist also talked about the weather being a dynamic element. “You will see clouds today that you will never see again.” Eliasson said he wanted to capture that.
It’s interesting to see how the audience connect with the artwork. there’s something to that idea that the world can be seen with wonder and awe. There’s something to the ideas that just certain shapes, or contrasts in color, or random images in general can bring us emotion, cause inspiration and stretch our imaginations. In the end, There are so many philosophical, political, religious, social, beautiful and ugly ideas portrayed through this contemporary art with challenging techniques. Not all is just a shock value.
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