Postmodern Art 20 Lectures [Illustrated Collectible Edition]

Author: Ma Yongjian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Without the extremism of crude modern art, there would be no moderate compromise of postmodern art. Without the constant innovation and ever-changing nature of modern art, there would be no dazzling diversity and coexistence of postmodern art. Postmodernism is hybrid rather than pure, compromising rather than flawless, ambiguous rather than clear, eccentric yet interesting—Vitruvius once angrily accused the postmodern master Joseph Beuys of always discussing God and the world but never talking about art. Beuys replied, "God and the world are art!" Yes, any art associated with postmodernism seems to add a layer of avant-garde significance. Postmodernism is a world full of temptation, accommodating all kinds of possibilities, yet it is also a pluralistic space without unified standards, challenging us to confront the tangled imagery. Under the guise of postmodernism, artists can use any means as a form of expression to convey the emotions they wish to express, turning art into a personal property that anyone can create. Perhaps, it is also a phase in the history of art, waiting to be surpassed by later schools and movements, becoming a part of the artistic life.
Regarding the definition of modern and postmodern, controversy has always existed. Similarly, within postmodern art, there are diverse schools and complex styles, bewildering viewers. If modern art is a product of industrial civilization, then postmodern art is a product of the information society. The world no longer has a center, and art no longer has trends—"anything goes" reflects the infinite inclusivity and diverse developmental possibilities of postmodern art. Although the postmodern movement reevaluates and reselects the concepts familiar before World War II, it cannot hide the fact that art has shifted from a reckless humanization to a cold, indifferent dehumanization.
This book selects representative artists and works from various postmodern art movements, including Pop Art, New Realism, Conceptual Art, Hyperrealism, New Painting, and Earth Art, guiding you into their world to appreciate the powerful expressions of contemporary society.