Modernism and Postmodernism

1318 Words6 Pages
Modernism describes the art and aesthetics movement as a reaction against realism. Modernists are similar to structuralism on its view of the world that it is composed by underlying formal systems which can be known and explained (Sturken and Cartwright 2009, 4498). Postmodernism appeared as a reaction against modernism. Defining postmodernism is difficult as it would contradict inherent beliefs of postmodernism which defines that there is no absolute truth. However it is stated as a “ set of trends in the art world that question, among other things, concepts of authenticity, authorship and the idea of style progression (Sturken and Cartwright 2009, 454). Jackson Pollock’s painting is defined as a modern artwork as it portrays the characteristics of modernism that are; truth to materials, autonomy and innovation while, Hans Rudi Giger’s sculpture and Banksy’s artwork is postmodern as it represents some of the characteristics of postmodernism that are; the truth cannot be known, makes references and not being true to their materials.
A key characteristic of modernism is the concept of truth to materials. In a modern artwork you need to choose a right and appropriate material in which the particular idea is best expressed (Blond 2012). Figure 1 is a painting done by Jackson Pollock, who was an abstract expressionist. His painting had “ thinned paint that was applied to unprimed, unstretched canvas that lay flat on the floor rather than propped on an easel ” (The Metropolitan Museum of Art 2007). These materials were used to help to portray the heavy, graceful and arching aspects of his painting. “Every material has its own individual qualities. It is only when the sculpture works direct, when there is an active relationship with his material that the material can take its part in the shaping of an idea. Stone for example is hard and concentrated and should not be
Open Document