The past few years have seen a surge in interest in different eras of artistic expression across the world. This is particularly evident with popular forms of media such as movies, music videos, video games, fashion, and even books. With this increasing interest comes an increased curiosity about the artists who created these works. So, it becomes important to understand what these two movements convey, why they exist, and how they affect modern culture. These two movements also represent vastly different cultures, but many comparisons can be made between them.
The first question that comes to mind when considering the comparison to abstract art is whether or not the works are actually more complex than mainstream art. Most people think of most works as being ‘abstract’. However, there are some very clear distinctions between these terms, and the meaning used by each word is unique. An example for this concept would be the French term ‘abbreviation’. A shortened word means something is not complete or accurate, and this idea is definitely an example of what abstract art – a work that is just.
Abbreviation can easily mean all types however; it can even refer to a shortened name or title. It is more than just another word, it is part of the originality of the work. This does not only extend to the title, but the fact that the artist took time to explain and make it known for everyone to see. For instance, the singer, Cher, has shortened or abbreviated her full name, Cherilyn. Not only does the abstract movement allow for the reader to learn about the works through their descriptions, but it allows the viewer to interpret this person’s meaning into how the piece communicates their own abstract view. Although this might seem strange at first glance, it is really a way to bring life to someone and create a clearer understanding of their work. In the same manner, abstract art brings the viewers into the worlds of the authors. There is so much more to how this piece was constructed, and it allows the reader to have a deeper understanding of the ideas and feelings behind it.
The next thing to consider as compared to abstract art is its relation to other fields of study. According to John Berger, there is still a great deal of controversy that exists as to what qualifies as a legitimate painting or sculpture. He states, “Painting is often considered a subfield of visual arts, while sculpture is not. But no single discipline can claim to dominate either entirely, since each contains both a distinct field of inquiry that is separate from, but complementary to, the other, and a number of related fields.” Some examples of different types of work exist in each of these fields. For instance, a painting of St. Peter by Paul Gauguin, shows his religious beliefs within France and Spain while a sculpture similar to Nude By Maxine Baker-Bowers, shows the impact on contemporary public space during the 60’s and 70’s. Ultimately this speaks to artists needing to understand and communicate things in ways other arts cannot. They will be able to have communication across medium’s for instance.
The fourth point that needs to be addressed is how they compare in their purpose. From a commercial perspective, abstract art focuses more on the form and surface and more focused on the artwork itself. When looking at pop art, artists are focusing solely on the elements in the piece. One of those pieces, by Andy Warhol, is called Poodle Rock, which is set across the top of New York City during Christmas. The image of this painting is mainly black and white, but Warhol took the process and turned it into a color piece. Through colors he created this painting of a dog. Another example that is an abstract depiction of beauty is by Jeff Koons, which is an example of surrealism within Modern Culture.
Lastly, two different objects can be placed side by side. A cat and a cow both have different shapes and sizes, but they are all very similar in their composition. Which of these objects is more sophisticated? Which one represents a higher level of sophistication? I have a hard time answering that since none of them would be more advanced in any way when you look at them side by side. Who am I to say which answer is right? So, while the answer to this may take a little looking into, maybe the answer lies in your head, or in your feelings. That is my personal opinion though. My personal opinion on the works is purely based off of what I feel they represent. Whether you think them beautiful or not, is up to you to decide. I do not think abstract works should ever be viewed as lower level pieces, nor should pop works be viewed as being inferior to traditional paintings and sculptures. Both of them are unique in their own way, and I think they both represent a wide range of ideas. And finally, while we will always continue to discuss abstract art, I hope this blog post helps to broaden our understanding of art as a whole.
