Contemporary art is called those artistic expressions that originated during the twentieth century . Although the criterion of contemporaneity is of disparate use, art productions during the last century have a series of common features that are in stark contrast to those from previous eras. Thus, it is possible to refer to the art of the twentieth century as a block, ignoring the always present differences that exist in it. The main characteristics that can be pointed out with respect to the art produced in that century are those that make an innovation in the rules to be followed, as well as the use of old patterns that are used with a meaning other than the original .
It is necessary first of all to give a brief review of some concepts in force at the time of the end of the nineteenth century. Until that moment, despite the enormous differences that had arisen in terms of defining the value and scope of art, an intention to achieve beauty through it always prevailed. In this sense, it can be said that a Platonic element always underlay the artistic mentality prior to the 20th century, an aspect to which Christianity may have contributed.
It is enough to remember that many experts define the existence of cyclical periods in the history of art. Thus, the Renaissance exhibited an intense Platonic aspect in which typical variables of Greco-Roman culture were rescued, with respect for symmetry, classical patterns of beauty and the human figure. These characteristics are called Apolines (in reference to the Greek god of beauty, Apollo). The Renaissance was succeeded by the Baroque, a brief, deeply explosive and creative period , in which these canons were relativized to include more random and even gloomy parameters as well. These characteristics are usually defined as Dionysian (after the Greek god of wine, Dionysus). The neoclassicism andRomanticism represent two later and homologous stages of the Renaissance and the Baroque, in that order.
In the same way, with the consolidation of the Industrial Revolution first, and after the First World War, the Apollonian position was abandoned in pursuit of a more relativistic one, to the point of denying beauty as the purpose of art. Thus, it will be the avant-gardes that will try to "free themselves" from past conceptions, rooting for new and experimental styles. Beyond the fact that they failed to prosper, they left their mark in the course of the century, relativizing the notion of beauty.. In many ways contributed to these developments in modern art the possibility of the rapid incorporation of artistic parameters from other regions of the world (especially Asia and the native peoples of America) and, in many cases, the experimental phenomena with hallucinogens used in the 1960s.
Likewise, it is worth remembering that the 21st century has incorporated into modern art the associated concept of digital art, in which many creators apply computer technologies to create or complement other types of works, be they graphic or musical in nature. The resources digital are here to stay permanently in the world of contemporary art, with a greater or lesser degree of influence depends on the availability and cultural variables characteristic of the artist and his social environment.
Certainly, a quota of subjectivity can be pointed out when evaluating a particular work. However, the extreme questioning of guidelines that were respected until the end of the 19th century led to a trivialization of art . Indeed, if beauty is relative, then any element is beautiful, and if art does not have to abide by aesthetic criteria, then any expression is artistic. The treatment of these questions will be essential to define the future of culture. The viralization of art has turned each user into a kind of critic of greater or lesser suitability, which is why the tastes and pleasures associated with modern art they can be enjoyed in a personalized way and with great possibility of choice on the part of each individual.