Page 9 - ART NOW Internationally Recognized Artists

However, these arguments can be challenged by challenges and opportunities of the contemporary
pointing out some of the ways that contemporary world. For example, some contemporary artists,
art is connected to the past and its context, and is such as Yinka Shonibare, Mona Hatoum, and Shirin
influenced by other factors besides the ideology Neshat, explore the issues of cultural identity,
of progress and the consumerist system. First of hybridity, and belonging, and challenge the
all, contemporary art is not completely detached stereotypes and prejudices that are associated with
from the past, but rather engages with it in a critical their ethnic, religious, or national backgrounds.
and creative way, by revisiting, reinterpreting, and Other contemporary artists, such as Judy Chicago,
reappropriating the works and ideas of previous artists Barbara Kruger, and Guerrilla Girls, address the issues
and movements. For example, some contemporary of gender inequality, discrimination, and violence,
artists, such as Cindy Sherman, Sherrie Levine, and and advocate for the rights and representation of
Richard Prince, use the technique of appropriation, women and other marginalized groups. Still other
which involves taking images or objects from existing contemporary artists, such as Olafur Eliasson, Andy
sources, such as mass media, advertising, or art Goldsworthy, and Agnes Denes, address the issues
history, and altering or recontextualizing them to of environmental degradation, climate change, and
create new meanings and commentaries. Other sustainability, and create art that raises awareness
contemporary artists, such as Anselm Kiefer, Gerhard and invites action.
Richter, and Ai Weiwei, address the historical and
political issues of their countries and regions, such Contemporary art is a complex and diverse
as the Holocaust, the Cold War, and the Tiananmen phenomenon that cannot be easily defined or
Square massacre, and explore the themes of memory, categorized. While it is true that contemporary art
trauma, and resistance. differs from the past and its context in many ways,
and is influenced by the ideology of progress and the
Secondly, contemporary art is not only influenced by consumerist system, it is also true that contemporary
the ideology of progress and the consumerist system, art engages with the past and its context in a critical
but also by other social and cultural forces, such as and creative way, and is influenced by other social
globalization, migration, feminism, environmentalism, and cultural forces. Therefore, contemporary art is
and activism. These forces shape the identities, not disconnected from the past and its context, but
experiences, and values of contemporary artists rather reflects and interacts with them in a dynamic
and audiences, and inspire them to create and and dialogical manner.
appreciate art that reflects and responds to the Petru Russu - The editor
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art now