Do you find museums boring? Go and see a modern art exhibition!
Don’t dare go to a museum? You’re wrong!
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been uncomfortable in museums, always believing that I didn’t belong there, that I was an intruder who had simply managed to bypass the security devices and sneak in between the paintings of the great masters, only to be bored for hours on end.
Perhaps you’re in the same situation as me, with museums seeming as inaccessible as they are elitist; if not, perhaps you simply find them boring. If so, this article is for you!
Classic museums don’t appeal to you?
“When do we get out of the museum, I’m sick of it!”
“Is my interpretation of this work really relevant?”
“I have the impression that all works are alike! “
If you’ve ever said that to yourself, it’s no reason to shun museums! It would be stupid to deprive yourself of all the diversity of Art because your last outing to the Louvre gave you a headache and a legache.
I understand that visiting a museum can be frustrating after the first 30 minutes, but perhaps you should take an interest in another, more… contemporary art movement!
The Centre Georges Pompidou houses Europe’s largest collection of modern and contemporary art!
So it’s through some of its works that I’ll try to convince you to return to the museum, but first, a bit of history.
Contemporary art
Contemporary art is, as its name suggests… contemporary…
Summarizing the Wikipedia page on contemporary art, we find this:
“Contemporary art encompasses works of art made after 1945, succeeding modern art. Its temporal limits and what constitutes it are the subject of debate. This movement encompasses innovative and transgressive aesthetic practices, integrating various artistic fields beyond the traditional plastic arts”. (from Wikipédia)
But in the collective imagination, the specificity of contemporary art lies not so much in temporality. Rather, it’s about works that stand out from those considered “classical”, works that you’ve no doubt studied throughout your course. Indeed, contemporary art pushes back the boundaries of the work, the museum and even the viewer.
The latter can sometimes touch the work, become impregnated by it and, in extreme cases, become the work’s object.
The boundaries are sometimes so blurred that contemporary art is often denigrated, but I’m sure you’ll be able to overcome your preconceptions. Come on, make a little effort, at least long enough to read this article!
Interacting with the work to become one with it
Many contemporary works of art lend themselves perfectly to what is known as interactive art, meaning that the viewer no longer simply observes the work, but becomes an actor in it.
Take, for example, Jean Dubuffet’s Le Jardin d’hiver, a work in which the viewer can literally enter!
In this work, the visual aspect is as important as the sound. It’s a real immersion in a universe created from scratch by Jean Dubuffet.
For other works, the materials used are sometimes fragile and perishable, making the work ephemeral, leaving other possible interpretations to the viewer as the work evolves.
This is the case, for example, of Giuseppe PENNONE’s Respirer l’ombre, composed mainly of laurel leaves, which dry over time and gradually lose their fragrance.
Contemporary art is a source of innovation, both in the materials used and the ideas conveyed, so it’s not unusual to see works that wish to convey a message to the viewer.
Let your emotions take over
Many contemporary works are considered shocking by public opinion, especially when they touch on the animal cause. Indeed, many works use animals to promote political messages.
A case in point is Gloria FRIEDMANN’s Bonjour tristesse, which uses the skin of a horse to create a sculpture that will probably not leave you indifferent.
It’s important to bear in mind, however, that these works are not necessarily the result of animal mistreatment, although it’s understandable that they may shock a sensitive public.
Although such works are often decried by animal protection associations, they do have the merit of catching the eye, and prompting visitors to question the society in which we live.
Don’t hesitate to comment on your experience of contemporary art!
Contemporary art is much broader than you might think. Armed with your critical sense, you have everything you need to visit a contemporary art exhibition!
However, I can’t guarantee that your legs won’t ache at the end of your visit, because once you’ve immersed yourself in this universe, it’s hard to get out!
