Written By: Angelina Jain
Edited By: Ishani Patil
Designed by: Aadiyaa Kurupp
Art throughout the 2010s had high cultural awareness and entered a more global and diverse world. Along with the rapid advancement of technology, the art world also found newer methods of connecting with wider audiences and responding to global issues. Institutions such as museums and galleries evolved as well, and new tools for sharing art - such as social media - have changed the way art is interpreted. Here are some ways the art world has transformed in the past decade:
The examination of the overlooked aspects of art history
In 2016, an anonymous feminist artist-activist collective, the Guerrilla Girls, revealed statistics about representation at European museums. While an unsurprising bias towards Western male artists was found, many artists and curators began increasingly recognising artists who have long been in the shadows. There have also been many exhibitions put out regarding subjects of gender, race, and sexuality. This move towards a more inclusive community saw the rise of artists such as Victoria Sin, Juliana Huxtable, and Wu Tsang.
The shift in the art world to consciously take forward previously unrepresented perspectives also spread to universities. Many university art departments which were previously more focused on Western solo artists also looked to broaden their horizons. They started looking for experts in other fields and non-western historians who were experienced in specific regions across the world.
2. Instagram and the experiential art frenzy
Instagram, launched in 2010, drew attention to experiential art. Other than providing a platform for digital artists, Instagram allowed artists to create large scale works which audiences could also be a part of. This widespread frenzy of experiential art was a cultural phenomenon which saw many memorable artworks, ranging from Jon Rafman’s ball pits and massage chairs, to the enveloping screens and sounds by Kahlil Joseph.
‘Rain Room’ by Hannes Koch and Florian Ortkrass of Random International created a lot of buzz surrounding their release at the Barbican, London, in 2012. It was an experience like no other and showed just how much importance these installations have gained.
3. Street art going mainstream
Other than being used for beautification purposes, street art often draws its inspiration from real-world sociopolitical problems and is often used as a form of activism. The past decade has seen as rise in the popularity of street art and its acceptance in the mainstream.
Exhibitions showcase the works of artists such as Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquit who were some of the artists to bring street art to the galleries. Although there remains a slight divide between artists still creating art on the streets and the artists who have adopted the style of street art, the increasing popularity of street art is rapidly changing the pre-existing notions of art.
One of the most prominent artists to succeed in the mainstream would be Bansky. He gained immense popularity in the past decade, starting from his 2010 documentary ‘Exit Through the Gift Shop’ and more recently, his auction house stunt where an artwork being sold for £1 million shredded itself upon being sold.
While street art hasn’t evolved too far in terms of critical appraisal, the skills of these artists are attracting attention and the developments of the past decade have been positive for the flourishing of street art and artists.
Social revolution, protests, activism, and the rise of social media are a few things which shaped the past decade. These translated into the art world and there were substantial shifts in art movements and way art is perceived by the larger audience.
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