No Contemporary Art, Only Contemporary Interpretation

 

Con: together with

Tempus: time

screen-shot-2016-11-09-at-15-34-41

Three years ago when I was a freshman taking my first history course, Professor Melissa Macauley talked about one moment she recalled from 1989, China, when she was a visiting student at Beijing:

“I went past the [Tian’anmen] Square, and saw people gathering. At that point I did not know what it meant. I was thinking about my scholarship, about when I would receive it, and I walked past it.”

At the moment, Professor Macauley was witnessing one of the key moments in Chinese history. However, she confessed that she did not pay attention to it (and sadly so, because “How could I- I was a graduate student then with a degree in history!”).

 

Factual Contemporaneity and Radical Contemporaneity

In Professor Macauley’s narrative, I saw a duality of “contemporaneity” because of two different interpretations of the idea “time.”

On the one hand, there is the objective timeline everyone agrees upon and acknowledges to be the backdrop of all happenings. Only with such backdrop is any human experience possible: That there could be order, and things do not cluster together in chaos.

In this sense, the event was contemporary to Professor Macauley because in the objective timeline, she stood at the same point as the event. I will call this “passive contemporaneity,” or “factual contemporaneity.”

On the other hand, there is the time that involves human understanding. We humans naturally seek connections in order to make sense of the world: We think that earlier events cause later ones, which in turn cause even later ones. We think that things that exist at the same time interact with one another.

In this sense, Professor Macauley did not think of the event as contemporary of her. That is, she neither realized her relationship with the event, nor saw what led to it, or what it might lead to. I will call the realization of the connections between the perceived event or artwork and the audience or other events “active contemporaneity,” or “radical contemporaneity.”

 

No Contemporary Art, Only Contemporary Interpretation

I will pursue after radical contemporaneity, for the discussion is more relevant to us. We humans as finite beings can only know about things that we experience- and experience does not come to be when a thing is presented to us, but instead comes to be when we make meaning out of it, or give it name to pin it down. That is, radical contemporaneity really addresses when events and artworks become contemporary to us. It talks about when human mind is activated- and is activating human mind not one of the most important things that art does?

With the idea of radical contemporaneity in mind, rather than defining “contemporary” as a character of an artwork, whether saying that

  1. it incorporates certain characters of the present time,
  2. its creator lives in the present time, or
  3. it depicts the present time,

I would like to define it as a way of looking: a way of looking that enables the audience to think critically about their own time, about the events happening and the ideas circulating.

Where does the current time come from? Where is it going to? What is my relation to it, and what am I going to do with it?

In other words, there is no such thing as contemporary art (that is, no art is inherently contemporary or inherently not contemporary), only contemporary interpretation.

 

How To Look Contemporarily

Tableau I, Piet Mondriaan, 1921

Tableau I, Piet Mondriaan, 1921

A piece of Piet Mondrian can be viewed not contemporarily in 1921.

“It talks about abstraction, about the elegance of form, about proportions, and about the balance of color.”

It can be viewed contemporarily in 1921.

“It proposes a new idea of art. Arguing against his predecessors who believed art should represent reality, Mondrian raised the possibility to use art to reach the spiritual. Is it the cruelty of World War I that distanced him emotionally from reality?”

It can be viewed not contemporarily in 2016.

“Mondrian’s paintings like this challenged the traditional idea of art.”

It can be viewed contemporarily in 2016.

“His work challenged not only beliefs in art, but also beliefs about attitude towards the world: Should we purse the reality, or the spiritual? Are we still in that discussion he raised? Are we pondering other questions because other artists learned from him to challenge beliefs with the form of art?”

 

To Consider the Contemporary Historically

The seemingly irony as presented in the example is such: Only when introducing other times will we be able to discuss the current time.

To see how we come to where we are today, we need historical context: We need to reach back to dig out the cause, which the current time as its effect tells us little about.

To understand how an event is related to us, we need to have historical consciousness: We need to realize that we are in time, and to acknowledge a past and a future. While we might feel bewildered staring into the deep pupil of the current time, hardly seeing how we interact with it, we have to know that only later can the effect show- and that it will.

 

Contemporary Artists and Contemporary Curators

That said, while there cannot be inherently contemporary art, there can be contemporary artists and contemporary curators who trigger the historical consciousness, or provide the historical context, inviting us to think critically about our time.

fullsizerender-2screen-shot-2016-10-05-at-15-53-56

Andrew Yang is such a contemporary artist. When we look at the exhibition, from the objects neatly laying out on the table in tender colors, to the room where sand covers the floor and white noise fills the air, we easily lost ourselves at the present moment in the beauty of form. However, with a video Yang reminds us to look at his art contemporarily: He interviews his mother, who recalls looking into the milky way, and feels sad that her granddaughter does not get to see the same.

Yang brings us to think of our time, a time when we lost contact with the nature and the universe, to question the pollution that caused the lost, and to strive to reconnect with the milky way.

screen-shot-2016-11-09-at-15-26-33

screen-shot-2016-11-09-at-15-49-39

The curators at MCA are contemporary curators. In the exhibition, The Making of a Fugitive, we see a wall of pictures of Patricia Hearst, an heiress who had been kidnapped, become a guerrilla fighter, and later become an actress. The pictures are photographs that accompanied newspaper reports for these different stages, some depicting her as young, bright, and innocent, others depicting her as rebellious, dangerous, and suspicious. The curator asks on the label for the exhibition:

Think of a recent media story that changed your point of view or affected your opinion. Why did your opinion change?

The curator, then, invites us to critique our current time, just as we naturally would critique the time addressed by the artwork. We are pushed to ask ourselves, for example, how much our beliefs are influence by communication systems and social hierarchies.

 

To look contemporarily, then, is to acknowledge the temporal nature of ourselves and things we experience. That is, underscoring the moment we are standing at, we look into the past which leads to today, and anticipate a future that today leads to.
And we should look contemporarily, because this way of looking reminds us of the importance of “now”:
Since we, too, are at the current moment, we are able to interact with the events and ideas that are in it, and with our freewill we are able to perform actions that challenge what is evil, and protect what is sacred, so that the future will be better.

2,061 Comments

  • Pratama commented on June 23, 2024 Reply

    SOBAT777 situs no ribet proses sat set dan selalu beri keuntungan untuk semua pemainsobat 777 link alternatif

  • Akin Cod commented on June 23, 2024 Reply

    warkopkiu agen slot online paling gacor depo minim 5000 wd terjamin di bayar warkopkiu link

  • UPSers commented on June 23, 2024 Reply

    I hate my boss. So during the spare times, I am quite down and dumbed from the repetitive tasks. Your posts give my brain some needed excercise. Thanks! assignment 代做

  • UPSers commented on June 23, 2024 Reply

    Wow! Thank you! I always wanted to write on my website something like that. Can I take a fragment of your post to my site? assignment 代做

  • UPSers commented on June 23, 2024 Reply

    Really Curious site this is.. I really Enjoy a lot reading your Blog.. I will Bookmark your site for more remark. assignment 代做

  • UPSers commented on June 23, 2024 Reply

    Thanks for your post. Another element is that to be a photographer entails not only problems in capturing award-winning photographs but also hardships in acquiring the best camera suited to your requirements and most especially issues in maintaining the standard of your camera. It is very genuine and clear for those photographers that are in to capturing the particular nature’s fascinating scenes : the mountains, the actual forests, the wild or maybe the seas. Visiting these exciting places unquestionably requires a digicam that can live up to the wild’s unpleasant surroundings. fyp 代做

  • pipitt commented on June 23, 2024 Reply

    sobat777 situs gacor gampang maxwin dan terpercaya sejak 2014 sobat 777 link alternatif

  • bom bom commented on June 23, 2024 Reply

    SOBAT777 TERBAIK PALING MANTAP DENGAN RTP TERBARU sobat 777 slot

  • UPSers commented on June 23, 2024 Reply

    But wanna input on few general things, The website pattern is perfect, the content material is rattling superb : D. 外籍老師一對一香港

  • UPSers commented on June 23, 2024 Reply

    After study many of the websites on the web site now, we genuinely much like your means of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark internet site list and will also be checking back soon. Pls consider my web site at the same time and inform me what you consider. 外籍老師一對一香港

  • Partial Hospitalization Program Atlanta commented on June 23, 2024 Reply

    An impressive share, I simply with all this onto a colleague who was simply carrying out a little analysis for this. And that he in truth bought me breakfast since I ran across it for him.. smile. So i want to reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending some time to talk about this, I feel strongly concerning this and love reading regarding this topic. Whenever possible, as you become expertise, do you mind updating your blog post with an increase of details? It truly is highly a good choice for me. Big thumb up due to this post! AI-driven adult chat

  • Mila commented on June 23, 2024 Reply

    Saya mau tidur indexing</a

  • pak Qatar commented on June 24, 2024 Reply

    เว็บ123 A memorable website Because I do it for other people.

  • peter commented on June 24, 2024 Reply

    İzmir Escort ve İzmir Rus Escort kızları bulacağınız en doğru adrestesiniz. En kaliteli İzmir VIP Escort bayanlar sizleri bekliyor. Daha önce yaşamadığınız mutluluğu yaşayacaksınız. Çılgın eğlence ve zevk dünyasına davetlisiniz. izmir escort

  • nuinaza commented on June 24, 2024 Reply

    เว็บ123We have many online games .

  • adiswara commented on June 24, 2024 Reply

    enak nya mkan apa ini ya indexing

  • slot88 commented on June 24, 2024 Reply

    I feel very grateful that I read this. It is very helpful and very informative and I really learned a lot from it slot88

  • SIA courses commented on June 24, 2024 Reply

    SIA Courses
    We specialize in providing security courses including bodyguard training, CCTV, and more training courses in West Midlands & Birmingham.

  • UPSers commented on June 24, 2024 Reply

    Splendid post. We learn brand new stuff upon various blogs daily. Couple of revitalizing to determine content material using their company writers as well as grow to be familiar having a little some thing their own certain. I’d believe to make use of a few inside the information on my blog need to don’t mind. Normally I’ll provides a link back up in internet internet site. Thanks sharing. 外籍 老師 英文

  • UPSers commented on June 24, 2024 Reply

    This is really interesting, You are an excessively skilled blogger. I have joined your rss feed and look ahead to in the hunt for extra of your great post. Also, I’ve shared your website in my social networks! 外籍 老師 英文

  • UPSers commented on June 24, 2024 Reply

    My wife and i have been quite contented Edward managed to finish off his basic research through the entire precious recommendations he obtained when using the site. It’s not at all simplistic to just find yourself releasing helpful hints which often a number of people might have been making money from. And we also see we have got the blog owner to be grateful to for that. All the explanations you made, the straightforward blog navigation, the relationships you will help promote – it is mostly superb, and it is letting our son in addition to our family understand this subject is cool, which is unbelievably important. Thanks for the whole lot! 外籍老師

  • pp commented on June 25, 2024 Reply

    naza online game easy to play 24 hours

  • peter commented on June 25, 2024 Reply

    DPRTOTO Is The Most Famous and Largest Online Game Center in Indonesia dprtoto

  • SEOBacklinks commented on June 25, 2024 Reply

    You may not know, nor suspect that you may be losing hundreds, if not thousands of dollars every time you book flights to wherever. Why? Simply by relying too heavily on deeply ingrained misconceptions that amount to myths circulating the travel industry. cheap flights

  • UPSers commented on June 25, 2024 Reply

    If a point is worthy of carrying out it’s price doing perfectly. 弁護士 安い

  • tiwi commented on June 25, 2024 Reply

    sobat777SOBAT777 SITUS TERGACOR SAAT INI

  • yeni commented on June 25, 2024 Reply

    sobat 777SOBAT777 JP BERAPAPUN PASTI DI BAYAR LUNAS TANPA BASA-BASI

  • UPSers commented on June 25, 2024 Reply

    You made some decent points there. I seemed on the internet for the problem and found most people will associate with with your website. judi bola online

  • UPSers commented on June 25, 2024 Reply

    There are certainly plenty of details like that to take into consideration. That could be a nice level to deliver up. I offer the ideas above as general inspiration but clearly there are questions just like the one you deliver up where crucial factor might be working in sincere good faith. I don?t know if greatest practices have emerged around things like that, but I am positive that your job is clearly recognized as a fair game. Both boys and girls feel the affect of only a moment’s pleasure, for the rest of their lives. taruhan bola

  • rester commented on June 26, 2024 Reply

    เว็บ123 A memorable website Because I do it for other people.

  • Iabok Kala Sukur commented on June 26, 2024 Reply

    warkopkiu situs paling gampang jp, berapa pun jp anda pasti di bayar proses nya juga cepat warkopkiu emang paling okee warkopkiu

  • Roma Yantii commented on June 26, 2024 Reply

    warkopkiu agen slot online paling gacor depo minim 5000 wd terjamin di bayar warkopkiu

  • burhan commented on June 26, 2024 Reply

    TKPJP slot PILIHAN UTAMA SAAT INI GACOR FULL tkpjp link alternatif

  • Elsa commented on June 26, 2024 Reply

    SOBAT777 situs no ribet proses sat set dan selalu beri keuntungan untuk semua pemain sobat777

  • UPSers commented on June 26, 2024 Reply

    check out different facilities for beat making online and find out one that suits you best. Beat-making is a popular hobby today. There are a good number of options to combine so you only have to twist and turn. 交通事故 弁護士 東京

  • UPSers commented on June 26, 2024 Reply

    I have really learned some new things through your blog post. Also a thing to I have noticed is that normally, FSBO sellers can reject an individual. Remember, they’d prefer to never use your expert services. But if you maintain a steady, professional romance, offering help and remaining in contact for about four to five weeks, you will usually have the capacity to win a meeting. From there, a listing follows. Thanks 交通事故 弁護士 東京

  • UPSers commented on June 26, 2024 Reply

    I have viewed that smart real estate agents all over the place are getting set to FSBO Marketing. They are noticing that it’s in addition to placing a sign in the front place. It’s really in relation to building associations with these dealers who sooner or later will become consumers. So, once you give your time and effort to helping these traders go it alone — the “Law regarding Reciprocity” kicks in. Thanks for your blog post. 離婚 弁護士 東京

  • UPSers commented on June 26, 2024 Reply

    This web-site is actually a walk-through you discover the knowledge you wished in regards to this and didn’t know who need to. Glimpse here, and you’ll certainly discover it. 離婚 弁護士 東京

  • hima commented on June 26, 2024 Reply

    sobat777 SOBAT777 terperca ya modal 5000

  • himadani commented on June 26, 2024 Reply

    sobat 777 SOBAT777 𝐒𝟎𝐋𝐔𝐒𝟏 𝐂𝟑𝐑𝐃𝟒𝐒 𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐦 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐡 𝐖𝐄𝐁 𝐒𝐋𝐎𝐓 𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐚𝐭 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐆𝐈

  • bayudd commented on June 26, 2024 Reply

    sobat 777 slot SOBAT777 Sebagai Situs Games Online Terbaik

  • naza commented on June 27, 2024 Reply

    naza online game easy to play 24 hours

  • UPSers commented on June 27, 2024 Reply

    Thanks for sharing this great article! That is very interesting I love reading and I am always searching for informative information like this. 債務整理 弁護士 東京

  • bubu commented on June 27, 2024 Reply

    Hope you will update the article. I still like the blog Funguy Gummies

  • UPSers commented on June 27, 2024 Reply

    Howdy. Very nice web site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionally…I am satisfied to locate numerous helpful information here within the article. Thank you for sharing. 債務整理 弁護士 東京

  • bubu commented on June 27, 2024 Reply

    Hello there, have you by chance thought about to publish regarding Nintendo or PS handheld? Fun Guy Gummies

  • bubu commented on June 27, 2024 Reply

    Hiya, Could I download your photograph and use that on my website? Funguy Gummies

  • UPSers commented on June 27, 2024 Reply

    I need saying thanks to you because of this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little it smile Concerning you bookmarked to see new items post. 江戸川区 法律事務所

  • bubu commented on June 27, 2024 Reply

    Well done! I thank you your blog post to this matter. It has been insightful. my blog: how to make a girl fall in love Funguy

  • bubu commented on June 27, 2024 Reply

    Can i post on your blog as well? I`m reading your posts since few monts and i think you`ve got amazing blog. Lot`s of interesting things and nice theme If you want to give me an access write me by e-mail. Funguy Gummies

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *