l4 Characteristics of Contemporary Arts

CHARACTERISTICS
OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS
Find words from the puzzle that corresponds to the characteristics of
contemporary arts.
The most prominent feature of contemporary art is the
fact that it has no distinct feature or a single
characteristic. It is defined by the artist’s ability to
innovate and bring out a modern masterpiece.
Here are a few of the technical characteristics:
Innovation in Art
From the meaning of contemporary, contemporary art is an

art that is living in present times. It reflects current issues or
current events. So, from time to time it changes along with the
society. It could sometimes break the rules of traditional art,
created by modern humans.
Hangarin
Emmanuel Garibay.
Hangarin (Aspiration/Goal) is a depiction of the

passionate Filipino interest in sports, especially
basketball. The game is part of daily life for
young men in particular, who enjoy its physicality
and community appeal. In a dynamic, well
observed work, Garibay illustrates a group of
youths jostling on a court set in a closed if not (Aspiration/Goal), 2008. Oil on canvas.
confined urban environment. 79 x 75 inches. Courtesy of theartist.
Corpus Christi
Emmanuel Garibay.
Humorous and chaotic image comes a more

complex work entitled Corpus Christi, a
meditation on the meaning of Christ in
culture.
The painting offers multiple perspectives
and invites the viewer to circumnavigate it
Corpus Christi, 2008. Oil on canvas. 48
like a mapmaker or explorer. x 72 inches. Courtesy of the artist.
Pagpasok ni Kristo sa
Maynila
Emmanuel Garibay.
In the crowded complexity of a street

festival, so much a part of the rhythm of
Filipino community life, we see the signs and
symbols of faith and begin to look for the
figure of Christ.
Pagpasok ni Kristo sa Maynila (Christ Entering Manila),
2008. Oil on canvas. 58 x 76 inches. Courtesy of the artist.
Using New Materials
Another characteristic that was employed to bring about modern

art was the employment of different objects, materials that looked
useless to the common man but were brought to great use by modern
artists. The means or instruments to make the works of contemporary
art are changing and new technologies are used day by day.
For instance, painters used pieces of newspapers as a backdrop to
their canvases and created masterpieces of modern art from it. It
was unprecedented to use something like a newspaper in a painting.
Similarly, sculptors used pieces of junk to produce what is now
known as junk art. Also, common items like cars, chairs, boxes have
been used masterfully to create assemblages.
Some sculptors and other artists who work in three-dimensional
media, painters, photographers, video, and installation artists. They
make use of materials and media such as wood, paper, paint, milk,
rice, pollen, wax, plaster, stone, glass, metal, plastics, photos, slides,
videos, and computers.
Here are some contemporary art
works that used new materials
Newspaper in a painting
Junk Art Assembled Using Plastics
Art Using Rice
Art using stones
Art using pollens
Use of Color
Traditionally, color was used as means to bring reality to paintings

and art pieces. However, modern artists experimented with colors and
used it unconventionally to make new textures and themes and used
them in their pieces of art. The colors used are strong and the content
is symbolic.
Color is often one of the most exciting components of a painting.
In both figurative and abstract painting, color can be used for its
decorative beauty, to create mood and to express or arouse an
emotion. In nature and in art, color has a profound effect on the
viewer.
Cool colors, which is based on blue undertones, bring a calming
effect to the mind. These colors range from cold icy blues to warm
and nurturing Mediterranean turquoises. Blue represents
dependability. Warm colors, which is based on yellow undertones,
tend to convey emotions ranging from happiness to violence. Red,
orange, and yellow colors trigger hunger.
Red instantly attracts,
makes people excited
and increases the
heart rate.
Two watercolor paintings showing warm and cool colors. The
warm painting on the right is predominately shades of
orange and yellow. The cool painting on the left is
predominately blue and green. These two paintings serve as
demonstrations of how different the feelings are between
the color temperatures.
As an example, expressionism was mostly based on the
vibrant and expressive use of colors as a tool to innovate
their paintings. Expressionist art tried to convey emotion
and meaning rather than reality. Each artist had their
own unique way of "expressing" their emotions in their art.
In order to express emotion, the subjects are often
distorted or exaggerated.
Newer Techniques
Modern art is not only about playing and experimenting with colors
and objects, rather it has also given birth to newer techniques that
form the basis for contemporary art today.
Abstract expressionism
Abstract expressionism is a style of

art that has meant one of the main
manifestations of the spirit of the
20th century. It emphasizes the
expressions of the self and emotions.
The colors are more violent, and the
content has a symbolic tint.
Chromolithography
Chromolithography is a unique method for
making multi-color prints. A
chromolithograph is made using anywhere
from eight to forty stones, one for each
color. The chromist, who specialized in
breaking down the colors needed to re-
create the painting in ink, would document
this process in a progressive proof book, so
that the image could be recreated easily
again if needed.
Surrealism
Surreal artists introduced automatic
drawing to the world of art.
Surrealism was focused on tapping into
the unconscious mind to release
creativity. Surrealistic art is
characterized by dream-like visuals,
the use of symbolism, and collage
images.
Fauvism
Fauvism comprises the first of the
expressions of contemporary art. Its name
refers to a group of French painters who in
1905 filled the Paris autumn salon with
works. The specific characteristics of
Fauvism are aggression in the use of colors
(basically primary, complementary along
with garish tones) and their autonomy in
relation to shapes.
Cubism
Cubism is a style of art which
aims to show all the possible
viewpoints of a person or an
object all at once. It is called
Cubism because the items
represented in the artworks look like they are
made out of cubes and other geometrical shapes.
Neoplasticism
Neoplasticism is based on two-dimensionality, use of straight lines and

primary colors. Its objective is to divest itself of the particular to
manifest the purity of art.
Summary
• Contemporary art, to be put simply, is art of today. With no
specific medium or apparatus, Contemporary Art has been
interpreted differently in different times and different regions.
• Contemporary art is defined by the artist’s ability to innovate
and bring out a modern masterpiece.
• Contemporary art guides us to have reflection on our society
and its issues on politics, economy, culture and the likes.
Summary
• The means or instruments to make the works of contemporary

art are changing and new technologies are used day by day.
• Color is often one of the most exciting components of a
painting.
• Cool colors bring a calming effect to the mind while Warm
colors tend to convey emotions ranging from happiness to
violence.
Summary
• Modern art is not only about playing and experimenting with

colors and objects, rather it has also given birth to newer
techniques that form the basis for contemporary art today.
Some of these new techniques are abstract expressionism,
chromolithography, surrealism, fauvism, cubism and
neoplasticism.
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CHARACTERISTICS

From the meaning of contemporary, contemporary art is an

Hangarin (Aspiration/Goal) is a depiction of the

Humorous and chaotic image comes a more

In the crowded complexity of a street

Another characteristic that was employed to bring about modern

Traditionally, color was used as means to bring reality to paintings

Abstract expressionism is a style of

Neoplasticism is based on two-dimensionality, use of straight lines and

• The means or instruments to make the works of contemporary

• Modern art is not only about playing and experimenting with

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