POSTMODERN ART: ORIGIN, CHARACTERISTICS, TECHNIQUES, WORKS - ART - 2025

The postmodernist art is that associated with postmodernism, a cultural and intellectual movement that emerged at the end of the twentieth century characterized by individualism, the end of utopias and criticism of rationalism.

It stands out for the search for new forms of expression, in which elements of all previous styles and currents are combined, from the classics to the avant-garde.

Postmodernism mixes images of traditional art with graffiti, commercials, film and television. Source: pixabay.com

In this way, his works mix images of traditional art with graffiti, advertisements, film and television, trying to reflect the chaos of today's world overpopulated with information.

In turn, another of its distinctive aspects is the use of technology, including photo, audio and video design and manipulation programs to obtain new perspectives. By recycling techniques and ideas from all movements, postmodern art does not have a concrete and defined style, beyond the conceptual.

For this reason, his universe brings together a large number of proposals, including trans-avant-garde, neo-expressionism, free figuration, simulationism, bad painting, neo-pop, the new image, superflat and neo-Mannerism.

Origin and history of postmodernism

Although his ideas were already present in the 70s, postmodernism developed in the 80s as a movement to reject modernity.

Some historians point to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 as the turning point between one perspective and the other, which gave rise to a more individualistic worldview lacking in social commitment.

It is a time marked by a feeling of disillusionment and disenchantment with the ideas of progress, which functioned as an archetype of previous generations.

On the contrary, what stands out in this new conception is an end to idealisms and utopias, accompanied by a desecration of politics and religion, and a demystification of their leaders.

Failure of modernity

Postmodernism postulates the failure of modernity in three fundamental aspects of its thought:

1- The vision of education and culture as the way to achieve equal opportunities.

2- That of economic growth and development through work.

3- That of Marxism and liberalism as successful political conceptions.

The French philosopher Jean-François Lyotard, considered one of the great thinkers of the postmodern movement, affirmed that stories as they were conceived until modernity had died and from now on people had to get used to thinking without molds or criteria.

Characteristics of postmodern art

Postmodern art is characterized by:

- Search for new forms of expression.

- Combination of techniques from different currents, from classical art to avant-garde movements.

- Use of technology for creation.

- Experimenting with colors and textures.

- Appreciation of popular culture.

- Recycling of materials.

- Free choice and manipulation of styles.

- Ambiguity. The works have multiple meanings and each viewer can find their own.

- Personal and individual vision and absence of social commitment.

- Preeminence of the fragments over the whole.

- Worship of forms and search for contrasts between the different generations but from a current point of view.

Art is still art

The German-American conceptual artist Hans Haacke defined postmodernism with a phrase from the German novelist Goethe, who became a symbol of this movement: "art is still art."

With it she sought to demystify her supposed power to transform society and appealed to value her beauty from an objective point of view.

In that sense, postmodern works do not want to change the world or function as an avant-garde. Its sole purpose is to be appreciated as an image and as an artistic object.

Postmodern art techniques

Within the postmodern movement different techniques and artistic expressions are included, among which the trans-avant-garde, neo-expressionism, free figuration, simulationism, bad painting, neo-pop, superflat, neomanierism and the new image (new image) stand out..

The transvanguardia

It emerged in Italy in the early 1980s in opposition to "arte povera", an earlier movement in which poor and simple materials were used for creation.

The trans-avant-garde sought to regain joy through the recovery of classical pictorial values ​​and subjectivism, and their combination with figurative art.

Neo-expressionism

It emerged in the early 1970s in Germany as a reaction to minimalism and conceptual art. It was characterized by returning to figuration in a violent and primitive way, which was reflected in the use of crude techniques and contrasting colors.

His works used to have a large format and deal with sexual, war and satirical themes in which the human figure acquired great importance.

Free figuration

Arisen in France at the end of the 70s, this current was highlighted by a figurative painting of great intensity.

Its main characteristics were a spontaneous and simple style, inspired by rock, comics, cartoons and cinema, among other elements of mass culture.

Simulationism

It was a variant of German neo-expressionism that emerged in the United States in the 1980s. It stood out for the reinterpretation of other artists and styles, to which they added a subjective touch.

The bad painting

It emerged in the late 1970s in the United States, along with punk culture, new wave and new metal, as a contrast to intellectual and conventional art.

This trend took elements from street art, such as graffiti, stencils and billboards, seeking to highlight marginal ideologies and subcultures.

Neo pop

It was an updated version of pop art that emerged in the 80s. Like this, it used elements of popular culture and the mass media, but applied much more advanced techniques as a result of new technologies.

Neo-Mannerism

Emerged in Europe in the 80s, this trend was inspired by the concepts of Mannerism, Italian Renaissance painting and Baroque, which were approached with a certain irony, which often resulted in a parody and a caricature.

The main theme of his works were human figures, which were presented in uncomfortable situations.

The new image (new image)

It emerged in the United States in the late 1970s. Its style was similar to that of comics and combined elements of high art with popular art.

His name originated from the exhibition "New Image Painting" that was held in New York in 1978 and his works stood out from the European currents by offering greater diversity.

The superflat

It was a movement that emerged in Japan in the 1990s that rejected modern art as boring and elitist. Instead it proposed an approach to popular culture, especially the otaku subculture, related to anime, manga and cosplay.

His works used to include a critical look at consumerism and sexual fetishism that emerged after the Westernization of post-war Japanese culture.

Representative works and artists

Postmodern art does not seek to change the world or function as an avant-garde. Source: pixabay.com

David salle

(1952), American. She is one of the most representative figures of plastic postmodernism. Main works: To Be Titled, Satori Three Inches within Your Heart, Demonic Roland, Gericault's Arm and Sextant in Dogtown.

Georg baselitz

(1938), German. He is a neo-expressionist painter. Main works: Onkel Bernhard, Rayski-Kopf, Tierstück, Waldarbeiter, Der Wald auf dem Kopf, Die Ährenleserin, Trümmerfrau, Adler and Nachtessen in Dresden.

Gerhard richter

(1932), German. He is a muralist and painter whose work is based on photographs. Main works: Color Charts, Inpaitings, Arbeiterkampf, Gray Paintings and Forty-eight Portraits.

Jean-Michel Basquiat

(1960-1988), American. He was an artist who used graffiti as a basis to create collage-style paintings on fabrics. Main works: Riding with Death, In Italian, Charles the First, Horn Players, Dustheads and Boy and dog in a Johnnypump.

Julian Schnabel

(1951), American. He is a painter enrolled in the bad painting movement. Main works: Plate Paintings, Christ's Last Day, The Student of Prague, Self-Portrait in Andy's Shadow and Untitled (View of Dawn in the Tropics).

Takashi murakami

(1962), Japanese. He is considered the founder of the superflat current. Main works: My Lonesome Cowboy, Mr. Dob, Tan Tan Bo, Flower Matango, An Homage to Monopink 1960 and Eye Love Superflat (Black).

Jeff Koons

(1955), American. He is a neo-pop sculptor and painter. Main works: Ballong Dogs, Michael Jackson and Bubbles, String of Puppies, Tulips and Banality.

Andreas Gursky

(1955), German. He is a photographer known for combining real images with other computer generated ones. Main works: Rhein II, Ocean II, Tokio, Börse / Tokyo Stock Exchange and Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

Jeff Wall

(1946), Canadian. He is a photographer who is part of the photo-conceptualism movement, which imitates the effects of cinema and painting in his images. Main works: The Flooded Grave, Picture for Women and Tattoos and Shadows.

References

1. Muzzle, Valeriano (1993). Modern and postmodern. History 16, Madrid. Spain.
2. Iriart, Carlos (1985). Jean-François Lyotard: "Postmodernism is getting used to thinking without molds or criteria." El País newspaper. Spain. Available at: elpais.com
3. Ballesteros, Jesús (1989). Postmodernity: decadence or resistance. Technos. Madrid. Spain.
4. Hassa, I. (1985). The culture of postmodernism. Theory, Culture and Society.
5. Postmodern Art, Wikipedia. Available at: es.wikipedia.org