Modernism/Postmodernism

Haris Epaminonda, VOL. VI

Epaminonda, H. (2010) VOL. VI [installation] Tate modern Gallery [online] Available at: :http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/harisepaminonda/default.shtm
(Accessed: 23 march)

I saw this exhibition at the Tate last year the artist work in my mind had one of the main defining characteristic of what postmodernism is.  Her work was basically objects that she had gathered from around the world from different places and she arranged them in a particular order. From this she invited the viewers to use their own personal experiences to interpret the piece. The idea of each individual having his or her own interpretation of her work is the key characteristic that firmly places her work in postmodernism in my opinion.  Post modernist art tend to focus on the individual interpretation compared with modernist art where the artist would provide a defined context to the meaning of their work. Allowing the viewer to perceive their work solely as the artist intended.  With postmodernist work each person ads his or her own meaning to the work from his or her experiences which, purposely done with the artist intention, means the meaning is always different.

Funeral of the anarchist galli painted by Carlo Carrà

Carrà, C. (1910) Funeral of the anarchist galli [Oil on canvas] wikipedia [online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Funeraloftheanarchistgalli.jpg (Accessed: 23 march)

This painting is from the futurist movement era. The movement was about incorporating the themes of speed, science and technology in their paintings using technical skill but to allowing the work to be emotive. This painting is clearly a modernist painting as it conforms to characteristics of modernist paintings such as the context embodying the political agendas and social changes that effected that period in time. Another reason being that the painting has an exact meaning that the artist wishes to portray. So individual interpretations don’t apply here where as the previous artwork above that was the whole intention of the pierce.  

Epaminonda, H. (2010) VOL. VI [installation] Tate Gallery, London, 10 July 2010

Epaminonda, H. (2010) VOL. VI [installation] Tate modern Gallery [online] Available at: :http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/harisepaminonda/default.shtm
(Accessed: 23 march)
  
Carrà, C. (1910) Funeral of the anarchist galli [Oil on canvas] wikipedia [online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Funeraloftheanarchistgalli.jpg (Accessed: 23 march)

Berry, F (2006) postmodern art. Available at:http://www.postmodern-art.com/ (Accessed: 23 march)

http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/harisepaminonda/default.shtm