What is Contemporary Art

What is Contemporary Art? What is Modern

Art?

• Contemporary Art can be defined as art produced by artist living

today.
The photo by Xyza Bacani was shot in Hongkong
where the photographer, who hails from Nueva
Vizacaya, worked as a domestic helper. She used
photography to raise awareness about migrant
workers and humans rights.
HR Ocampo painitng was painted in the
early 1960s. A that time, painting was
considered contemporary. Today we refer
to these works as example of Modern Art,
produced between American colonial period
to the Post-war period. Some modern
artists continue to produce work till today.
In that sense, their works can be described
as contemporary by virtue of being “of
present”.
• The “contemporary” is therefore a fluid term,
and its use can depending on the context, in this
case historical and stylistic. At times, the Modern
and Contemporary can be use simultaneously or
interchangeably; however, there is also danger of
using them carelessly or loosely. Thus, it is
important to know the historical, and stylistic
contexts of the terms.