Modernism

     Modernism in the arts emphasized the innovation and experimentation of forms, materials and techniques; with the sole purpose to create artworks that mirrored modern society. It was a broad movement that influenced Western arts and literature, which began in 1850. This term encompassed a wide range of different styles. The main principles that constituted modernism were the following: the exclusion of history and conservative values (for example the realistic presentation of a subject) and the modification of shape, color and lines that construct the work with a focus on abstraction. It was often associated with a utopian society a vision of an ideal human life, society and belief system. The creation of the “ism” movements occurred: Impressionism, postimpressionism, fauvism, cubism, futurism, constructivism, dada-ism, surrealism expressionism, abstract expression, between others.
     Various artist influenced modernistic art such as Sonia Delaunay whom alongside her husband developed the theory of color which was named simultanism. She supported her husband and son, applied her ideas into design; made “simultaneous” fabric, clothing, furniture, environments and even cars. Robert, her spies often was considered a genius for the work the two of them did. “His painting never changed very much over the years, Sonia was always innovating, thinking of new ways their ideas could be applied to the world at large” (Guerrilla Girls, Pg 61) However, she often is not credited as equally as her husband. Which is unfair because it was her that basically made the movement what it is considered to be.

Sonia Delaunay, Prismes Isotiques, 1914

      Hannah Hoch, “The Mama of Dada” focused her work on dada an art movement which challenged many conventions ironically excluding male supremacy with a purpose to scandalize bourgeois society. She was the first of a couple of artists who created photo montages utilized media images. However, she was often exclded from the movement exhibitions Guerrilla Girls states “Dadas didn't want any Mamas” (Pg. 66). Male artists wanted this movement to be established by them. Not that which had influence by a woman artist. In her photomontaes she didn't present a woman that society envisioned but one who s daring, independent and free woman. She touched on a topic not widely accepted during the time which was making art portraying same sex couples and challenged the ideology of feminism and masculinity.

Hannah Hoch, Dompteuse, 1930

       Postmodernism was a term first utilized in 1970. It has no definite style or theory for that reason it has various approaches to its artwork. It is speculatd to have had started with pop art during the 1960s; have embraced conceptual art, neo-expressionism, feminist art, and the Young British Artists of the 1990s. Postmodernism was a wy to contradict modernism itself. It created scepticism and suspicion of reason the opposite of its counterpart. “The term Postmodernism has been used to characterize the breaking down of the unified (though hardly monolithic) traditions of Modernism.” (Chadwick, Pg. 380) This movement uses modernism as a way to reflect of what was created during that time. It uses what already exists rather than creating new materials. It has critiqued the way women today are portrayed in mass media and how the way she poses reinforces not only the male gaze but submission to the viewer
      Artists like Jenny Holzer with their works have been attempting to extend conceptualism to Postmodernism. She presents art as information, her anonymous posters “Truisms” which are opinions and “Inflammatory Essays” demands. They are all italicized in black and typed into a white paper. Later on took over billboards, epitaphs carved into stone benches, computerized signs and
installations. A topic doesn’t necessarily have to be scientific but it can also be personal. They encompass thoughts about “aging, death, pain, anger, fear, violence, gender, religion and politics” (Pg. 382) This shows the contrast to Modernism which focused in a perfect society which everything was “perfect”. It shows the people are supposed to feel and not all be the same. It addresses each one of their hardships. It depicts the reality of the world; it’s problems, injustices and inequality. Modernism was created by vision, that of a good world.

 

Jenny Holzer, Truisms, 1978-87/ Inflamatory Essays 1979-82

Works Cited
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/m/modernism
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/p/postmodernism https://www.m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5771350ae4b017b379f67628/amp

Chadwick, Whitney. Women, Art and Society. Thames and Hudson, 2015.

The Guerrilla Girls' Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art. Penguin Books, 2006.