Contemporary Abstract Art – No So Easy to Define
Abstraction has many levels to which contemporary abstract art painting is extremely varied. Jackson Pollock took abstract wall art to new another level. When the Second World War ended so did an episode in history: And in many ways this included the European arts. With Europe divided and scarred the arts of America took an equal footing – Something which had never happened before within the history of art. Part of the Process Contemporary abstract art has evolved since the end of the Second World War. How do we determine what is modern abstract wall art painting and what is contemporary abstract painting? Well, in a sense, ‘we’ do not ‘ The curators and critics of the art museums and galleries do. However, as many of the major museums and galleries housing some of the most significant contemporary abstract art are publically funded, ‘we’ are part of the process: And this has been demonstrated when some of their more controversial purchases have been greeted by a public outcry – Which invariably includes shouts of ‘my three year old could do that’. However, one has to remember that this has also been ‘part of the process’ since the conception of abstract wall art. Beyond Definition – More or Less The bottom line is that due to its very nature both modern and contemporary abstract art is hard to define – Apart from the fact that it is liberated from the confines of traditional canvas wall art: And has been produced since the seventies. In this way the contemporary abstract art produced today is exceptionally varied – More so than it has ever been before. And in this way it is also less defined.