Why Some Art Shines and Others Fade. What Truly Makes Contemporary Art Valuable?
Innovation, emotion, culture: The trifecta that makes contemporary art invaluable.
Have you ever wondered why some modern art pieces become global sensations while others remain relatively unknown?
Take, for example, the mesmerizing installations of Yayoi Kusama, which attract throngs of admirers, in contrast to a local artist’s exhibit that might garner only a modest audience.
Determining what makes contemporary art valuable today is a complex endeavor. Its worth can fluctuate based on the viewer, their cultural background, or the era in which both the artist and the observer live. Our perceptions of what constitutes “good” art are ever-changing.
Exploring the varied criteria used to judge contemporary art across different times and cultures can help us understand why certain works are celebrated while others are overlooked.
While it’s easy to assume that the value of art is tied to its market price, this is just one piece of the puzzle. Today, I’ll cover the non-monetary elements that contribute to the worth of contemporary art. These include the artwork’s message, its historical significance, and the emotions it evokes.
Consider a well-written instruction manual for assembling furniture. It’s undoubtedly useful, guiding you through each step with precision. However, it doesn’t evoke the same emotional response as a heartfelt letter from a loved one. The letter, filled with personal anecdotes and genuine sentiments, resonates deeply, much like a powerful piece of contemporary art crafted by a friend.
By examining these aspects, we can better appreciate the true essence of contemporary art.
Value Markers
These kinds of value markers can be hard to measure, but we can ask ourselves particular questions to consider how the contemporary art world might value a work. For instance, “Is this innovative?” Thinking about how notions of innovation and originality shape contemporary art is key. Different people are going to find different things innovative, but those opinions are shaped by the shifting standards and trends of their culture and time period.
Take the work of Kehinde Wiley and Yinka Shonibare. They both create pieces that challenge traditional perspectives and are considered groundbreaking at the times and places they were created, even though their styles and mediums are quite different. Sometimes, contemporary art isn’t meant to be beautiful but to accomplish something else entirely. In that case, we can ask ourselves questions like, “Does it push boundaries?” or “Does it show something from a new perspective?”
Consider the performance art of Marina Abramović. Her piece "The Artist Is Present" at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City involved her sitting silently across from visitors for hours, creating a powerful emotional and psychological experience.
It’s not about traditional beauty but about profound connection and endurance.
Digital and AI Art
Another fascinating area of contemporary art is digital and AI art.
Take Refik Anadol, an artist known for his data-driven and AI-enhanced installations.
His work "Machine Hallucination" uses millions of images of New York City, processed through AI, to create an immersive experience that questions our perception of reality. This kind of art pushes the boundaries of what we traditionally think of as art, merging technology and creativity in innovative ways.
In another discipline, Nam June Paik, a pioneer in video art, laid the groundwork for artists who now explore digital media.
His influence is seen in the works of contemporary artists who integrate screens, projections, and digital manipulation into their art.
The value here isn’t in the materials used but in how these materials are manipulated to create new experiences and perspectives.
Film and New Media
Let’s shift to film and new media. Ava DuVernay’s "13th," a documentary exploring the intersection of race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States, utilizes powerful storytelling to create an impactful piece of art. It's a film that not only entertains but educates and motivates societal change.
Similarly, Bong Joon-ho’s film "Parasite" provides a compelling exploration of class disparity and social inequality in South Korea. The film masterfully blends elements of dark comedy, thriller, and drama to create a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Bong's innovative storytelling and unique visual style blur the lines between genres, creating a piece of contemporary cinema that challenges viewers' perceptions and leaves a lasting impact.
Both DuVernay and Bong's works exemplify how contemporary filmmakers from different regions can use their art to address pressing social issues and push the boundaries of traditional storytelling, creating films that resonate deeply with audiences worldwide.
Sculpture and Installation
In the realm of sculpture and installation, consider Anish Kapoor’s "Cloud Gate" in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Known colloquially as “The Bean,” this monumental stainless steel structure, inspired by liquid mercury, captivates viewers with its reflective surface that distorts reality and engages the public in an interactive experience. Kapoor's work transforms an urban environment into a playful, contemplative space, inviting visitors to see themselves and their surroundings from new perspectives.
Similarly, Rashid Rana’s "Desperately Seeking Paradise" challenges traditional notions of space and perception. This large-scale installation, created by the Pakistani artist, features a massive, seemingly chaotic assemblage of reflective stainless steel cubes that disorient and fascinate viewers. The fragmented mirrors symbolize the fractured and multifaceted nature of contemporary life, compelling observers to engage with the complexities of modern existence.
Both Kapoor and Rana's works exemplify how contemporary sculpture and installation art from the Asia Pacific region can transform and challenge viewers' perceptions, providing immersive experiences that resonate on both personal and collective levels.
Street Art and Public Spaces
Street art has also carved out its place in contemporary art. JR, a French street artist, uses large-scale black-and-white photographs pasted on urban surfaces to create powerful, socially engaged art.
His project "Inside Out" encourages people worldwide to share their untold stories, turning personal identities into pieces of art that speak to collective experiences.
El Seed, another notable street artist, blends Arabic calligraphy with graffiti to convey messages of peace and unity. His work in public spaces transforms ordinary urban environments into vibrant, thought-provoking canvases that engage communities and inspire dialogue.
Dance and Performance
Contemporary dance is another vibrant field. Akram Khan, a British dancer and choreographer, blends classical Indian kathak with contemporary dance techniques to tell stories that are both personal and universal. His performances challenge traditional narratives and explore themes of identity, displacement, and cultural fusion.
Crystal Pite, a Canadian choreographer, uses dance to delve into complex human emotions and relationships. Her works, often described as visually striking and deeply moving, push the boundaries of contemporary dance, blending narrative and abstraction in innovative ways.
Contemporary Art in Museums
The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles started out with a small, avant-garde collection, and now it’s one of the most celebrated and influential contemporary art museums in the world. There’s sometimes a gap between the perceived value of an artwork in a museum and your actual experience with it.
So, what do we do with that? If the lore of an artwork is what attracts us to it — but the actual experience falls flat, what is the painting’s value? Well, it’s two and a half stars. Just kidding — I don’t know the answer. Nobody does. That’s kind of the whole point. Whether art can be objectively judged as good or bad is up for debate. But no matter when or where something was created, its cultural context can provide us with a deeper understanding of it.
Did it help?
So, there are lots of factors we can consider when trying to figure out a contemporary artwork’s value.
But who ultimately gets to decide what art is worth? Art criticism, where individuals with art expertise interpret a work and make judgments about it, plays a major role. The rise of contemporary art criticism has a significant influence on how contemporary art is viewed and taught.
Critics' opinions–subjective though they may be–have ripple effects that pave the way for shifts in art styles and influence how the rest of us think about and evaluate art. By making judgments about the value of contemporary art styles or particular works, art critics influence what becomes well-known and what gets included in art history.
And that shapes broader artistic tastes, including yours – even if you don’t realize it. It affects what you see as normal, or weird, or good, because it filters which art you’re likely to have seen at all, in textbooks, on tote bags, and notably, in museums.
It might seem like a given that “good art” is what ends up in museums. But museum collections are based on opinions and biases, just like our own choices.
Art can, of course, be valuable beyond its price tag, fame, or critical renown.
Maybe it pushes artistic boundaries, changes our point of view, or evokes deep emotions. However, how we evaluate art often says more about ourselves and our cultural and social contexts than it does about the art itself.
Unpacking all the ways we determine art’s value gives us the knowledge we need to break down our own barriers so that we can appreciate art from different periods and cultures.
And, when we evaluate art with an open mind, we see that the art in our homes and communities has value too, even if it isn’t hanging in a museum.
That’s all for today. Until next time. By any art necessary.
A brilliant article, thank you.
Glad Refik Anadol and "Machine Hallucination" gets a shoutout, truly one of the best exhibitions I have seen.