Post Modern Blog

 Postmodernism and the Deconstruction of Artistic Traditions

 

According to Lyotard (1984), the postmodern age, which generally runs from the middle of the 20th century to the present, is characterized by mistrust toward great stories, doubting traditional cultural ideals, and a combination of high and low art. Postmodernism created a wide variety of unique and frequently mismatched styles in the visual arts, from the humorous appropriation of popular culture to the study of alternative techniques of representation. This online exhibition, which focuses on six pieces by Cindy Sherman, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Jeff Koons, tries to demonstrate the diversity and complexity of postmodern art. By carefully analyzing these works, I will talk about how they interact with the themes of identity. I will examine how these pieces address issues of identity, adoption, and the collapse of artistic structures through an in-depth review of the pieces, while also considering my own aesthetic responses to the pieces.

 

Artist 1: Cindy Sherman

 

American artist Cindy Sherman usually creates photographic self-portraits in which she adopts several characters and responsibilities. Her "Untitled Film Stills" series from 1977 to 1980 is regarded as one of the most recognizable works of postmodern art. With reference to well-known filmic designs and styles, Sherman recreates patterns from imaginary movies in this series (Molesworth, 2012). The paintings question the idea of a secure, real self while also praising and criticizing the position of women in popular culture.

 

 

1. In "Untitled Film Still #21" from 1978, Sherman is portrayed as a stunning Hollywood starlet wearing an evening gown and fur stole. The picture plays with the viewer's notions of feminine and glamor while making a statement about how identities are created.

 

 

 

2. In "Untitled Film Still #35" from 1979, Sherman is depicted in a household environment while holding a broom and donning an apron. This essay discusses the ways that women have traditionally been kept in the home and criticizes the way that women are portrayed in popular culture as quiet, submissive individuals.

 

Artist 2: Jean-Michel Basquiat

 

American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, who was of Haitian and Puerto Rican origin, became well-known in the 1980s for his gritty, graffiti-inspired works of art. His interest in the breakdown and reconstruction of cultural symbols is seen in the frequent combination of symbolic, abstract, and text elements in his works (Saggese, 2014).

 

 

1. In "Untitled" (1981), a head-like skull is encircled by a jumbled collection of marks, words, and symbols. This work of art can be read as a reflection on the isolation and violence that African Americans endure, as well as an assessment of the broken character of postmodern identity.

 

 

2. The 1983 group photo "Hollywood Africans" features Basquiat and two of his friends: the artist Toxic and the musician Rammellzee. Black people have little representation in the entertainment business, and the painting calls on the audience to examine their own assumptions about race and identity.

 

 

 

Artist 3: Jeff Koons

 

American artist Jeff Koons is renowned for his huge works of art that take common objects and symbols from popular culture. His work frequently uses a cartoonish style, which challenges the lines separating high art from low art (Koons, 2009).

 

 

1. The pop feeling and his pet chimpanzee are shown in life-size ceramic sculpture titled "Michael Jackson and Bubbles" from 1988. The work is a statement on the abuse of art as well as a celebration and criticism of the culture of celebrities.

 

 

2. A artwork made of stainless steel that resembles an inflated balloon animal is called "Balloon Dog (Orange)" (1994-2000). This piece engages with the ideas of childhood innocence and regret while also challenging the traditional conception of sculpture as a solid and everlasting item.

 

Aesthetic Reaction:

 

Each of these pieces challenges our stereotypes of what art ought to be and provokes a variety of feelings and reactions. As seen in Basquiat's strong, emotive brushstrokes, Koons' glossy, reflective surfaces, and Sherman's carefully staged compositions, the art components of color, texture, and structure are used in striking ways. The positioning of these pieces inside the online exhibition draws attention to the parallels and differences between the various postmodernist approaches taken by the artists. With pieces by Cindy Sherman, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Jeff Koons, this online exhibition provides a window into the diverse and colorful world of postmodern art. These works challenge the viewer's stereotypes of art and culture by addressing issues of identity, adoption, and the collapse of artistic structures while offering a visually stunning and fascinating experience.

 

References:

 

Koons, J. (2009). Jeff Koons: Conversations with Norman Rosenthal. London: Thames & Hudson.

 

Lyotard, J. F. (1984). The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge. Manchester: Manchester University Press.

 

Molesworth, H. (2012). This Will Have Been: Art, Love & Politics in the 1980s. Chicago: Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.

 

Saggese, J. M. (2014). Reading Basquiat: Exploring Ambivalence in American Art. Oakland: University of California Press.