Modern Art - The Evolution of Modernism

The American Movement of Abstract Expressionism, which included the work of Jackson Pollock, Hans
Hoffman and Willem De Kooning, is considered one of the most important, with regards to the progression
of Modernism. The term Modernism defines the revolutionary concepts, which occurred early in the
twentieth century, with regards to Art, literature, and architecture. Modernism rejected tradition and was
highly controversial at the time. It was a revolution, as such, one that paved the way for new ideas to take
shape, which resulted in many new, and exciting, Modern Art movements to evolve. Even today, the subject
of Modernism, within Art, remains a controversial one.
 
The emphasis of Modernism, within the realms of Modern Art, remains with the freedom to express,
emotionally, politically and ultimately, artistically. Some Modern Art forms seek to do this by eradicating
expectation, by presenting the bizarre and therefore, startling the viewer with unpredictability. In this way,
all traces of Traditional Art are revoked, forcing the viewer to rethink and abandon any pre-concepts they
might have. In the Soviet Union, Modernism was rejected by Stalin's Communist Government, on the
grounds that it was elitist. In the same way, the Nazis branded this Art as Narcissist. This may seem a
curious way to describe Modernism. However, for many Artists, producing Traditional Art, this has true
basis. When an Artist produces Art that wholly represents themselves, not visually, but emotionally, it could
be deciphered as self indulgent. Which could also be described as Elitist, or Narcissism. Rather like someone
who talks about themselves all the time! Traditional Art places the emphasis upon representing, or if you
like, discussing, the world around them. Therefore, the Artist is not wrapped up in themselves, or their
emotions. The interest of these Artists lies in showing, representing, the world to others, and in this way,
they are regarding that world outside of themselves. Embracing it, and everything in it, as a whole. This was
why the Nazis displayed Modern Art (Modernist) Paintings alongside the 'Art' of mentally ill patients. The
Degenerate Art Exhibition, held in Munich, in 1937, has to be one of the most famous in history. The point
they were making was that the 'ramblings' of Modernist Paintings were, effectively, no more coherent, or
valuable, than the ramblings of a madman.
 
Modernism did flourish within more capitalist societies, although the Artists themselves claimed to reject
those same societies. Modernism gained its pace after the second world war, reaching a crescendo during
the sixties. Modern Art went through many phases, and new directions, during the fifties and sixties. There
was a definite, subjectivist, revolt against Abstract Expressionism. Now, these Artists would be regarded as
radical, and they would represent the avant-garde. Art critic, Clement Greenburg, was among the first to
approve and admire the Canvas Art of Jackson Pollock. In 1964 he was the curator for one of the most
influential Art Exhibitions to tour America, which displayed the work of this new avant-garde. Thanks to this
exhibition, Color-Field, Hard Edge Painting, and Lyrical Abstract Art, would all make their breakthrough, into
the world of Modern Art. Around the same time, in 1962, the Sidney Janis Gallery, in New York, exhibited
the work of 'The New Realists'. Collectively, they represented another, new, Modern Art Movement, and that
was, Pop Art. Sidney Janis opened his first Art Gallery in 1948, and was among the first in New York to
exhibit the work of leading European Artists, such as Klee, Mondrian, Miro and Bonnard. His Gallery was also
among the first to exhibit the emerging Artists, of the American Abstract Expressionist movement. This
included Artists such as, Jackson Pollock, Kooning, Rothko and Robert Motherwell. For this he gained much
prominence. In 1958 Greenburg had made tribute to Sidney Janis, commenting that his exhibitions did
much to aid the 'legitimacy' of American Artists.
 
 The 1962 Pop Art Exhibition sent tremors through the New York Art world, which reverberated right across
the Atlantic. Pop Art was a term first used in 1958, by English Art critic, Lawrence Alloway. Like most of the
new Modern Art movements, Pop Art was a flurried response against Abstract Expressionism. It enjoyed, no,
reveled, in the paradoxes of a consumerist society. Modernism would also incorporate Minimalism, during
the early sixties, and by the end of the sixties, Post-Minimalism and Process Art. Slightly later, Conceptual
Art would also emerge.
The GRAND QUEST : Frederick Weisman's Decade-Long
Dream of Finding an L.A. Home for His Celebrated Modern
Art Collection
December 20, 1987|DEBORAH SOLOMON | Deborah Solomon is the author of "Jackson Pollock: A
Biography" (Simon and Schuster).
IT'S A SWELTERING MORNING in San Antonio, with the mercury nearing a hundred. But heat doesn't stop
Frederick Weisman. By 10 a.m., the 75-year-old Los Angeles art collector has arrived by limousine at the Blue
Star Art Complex, a strip of galleries occupying former warehouses on the fringes of downtown. The whole
city knows he's here. His arrival in Texas the night before was reported on the evening news, accompanied by
footage of Weisman and his entourage of eight stepping off his private plane at the city's Million Air
International Airport.

Weisman, a short, genial, energetic man whose fortune is based on distributing Toyotas, has come to Texas for
a special occasion--an exhibition at the San Antonio Art Institute of works from his collection. A round of
parties has been organized in his honor, and his next two days will be spent hobnobbing with prominent San
Antonians who can't wait to tell him, "Ah juss luuuuv your collection!" Weisman isn't here, however, merely
to be complimented. His plan is to comb the local galleries and scout new talent. He's on a shopping spree, he's
got millions to spend, and the town is jumping to please him.