What Makes Art Contemporary

The three word ‘arts’, ‘aesthetics’ and ‘contemporary’ are in a relationship. But a contemporary art is not necessarily contemporary aesthetics and many art practices and aesthetics sensibilities are not necessarily contemporary despite being in practice.

An art is contemporary, if identified by contemporary people who matter. At the same time an art of a better genre might not be appreciated because of bad marketing or, managerial practices. So what determine the contemporariness of arts and aesthetics is mostly not the art of the arts but the art of presenting art in front of people.

The world famous Indian artist like Subodh Gupta took themes which got an international recognition. But that does not mean he is the only person who thinks on similar lines. Subodh got cows and cow dung, tongs and daily utensils, and such materials of common use to reach this stage. But no less was the role of Flora Boillot in promoting Brand Subodh. What I feel after five months of research and exchanges with these contemporaries is it’s really dependent upon things which might have nothing to do with art.

The conclusion I am able to reach as of now is- contemporary aesthetic beliefs of those who matter is critical for an art to be contemporary.

The fact remains that any folk art is better understood and practised by a larger number of people than any abstract or modern art. Any traditional art, simply because it is in the common psyche since ages is easily understood. But a folk art is not considered contemporary as it is not taken up by the marketers to the Sotheby and the Biennale.

Utility is again not all together a lost case. The survival of an art practice requires it to be of some use. There are many experiments which are in demand today but that might not be the case about them just after a couple of years. While votaries of arts would talk of art for arts’ sake, ultimately, the purpose should be commonly identifiable.

When we visit the market, many old crafts and practices have become contemporary. Yoga and meditation have become contemporary because of their utility. Because Yoga is a rage today, it has affected all forms of contemporary fitness practices. Meditation does not give much scope of changing itself, still it is a rage. Similar patterns are visible in the art world.

Contemporary is not art but the aesthetics of men who matter and the marketers who are able to drive home the point in their mind. These marketers are not the traditional painter artists but those who got taught in Wharton and Harvard: how to sell a product.

Is it good or bad? Will this trend hurt art practice? Do we need to search for better ways to identify or classify what is contemporary art and what is not? These questions are confusing. We really don’t know what’s going to happen after 10 years to the art world. As of now the most difficult is the art of waiting to watch.