Contents

1. The Modernists mind

2. Has modernism failed?

Behind the closed doors of the modernist mind. After the fight with the post modernist era, where does the design world sit today? Modernist? post modernist? Post post modernist? New Graphic Design explores.

A book review of Suzi GalbiksHas modernism failed?

The modernist mindModernism was born at the turn of the century and encompasses the belief that certain forms of art were becoming outdated and were in need of a change. Modernism itself was not a singular movement but rather a collection of isms that evolved into the collective term we understand it as today. Modernism was preceded by romanticism. It focused on the representation of light, atmosphere and colour, producing a direct reproduction of what physically appeared within the world around them. This is where the modernists chose to take a hugely different view on the world. The word reality became increasingly fluid, lacking a solid definition as the movement grew in power and popularity.

Whilst emphasizing continuity with the past idealisms that the movement was founded upon, artists embraced a change in the artistic direction the movement took. Leaving the more emotionalistic

and irrational aspects of pre-war modernism behind, movements such as constructivism began to work more systemtically, becoming useful to society, an important factor to almost every economy in the post war climate. The huge advances in technology also altered the way artists worked and perhaps more importantly, the views they had.

As the world was becoming increasingly enthused with cars, air travel, the telephone and other technological advances. The modernist artists saw the need to embrace this. The need to work, and live with these life changing inventions created social change. The modernist movement went through possibly the most rapid social changes in history, the art and views that were reflected throughout this time were always on the edge of what was new. Often pushing the boundries of convention and challenging peoples perception of art.

Has modernism failed?

Twenty years ago, a noted art writer lobbed a hand grenade at the smug world of con-temporary art. In Has Modernism Failed?, Suzi Gablik castigated a culture in which total submission to the big, powerful machine of the art market replaced the artists indepen-dent moral authority. Modern art broke the old rules, creating subversive work intended to shock the viewer into a new way of seeing. But consumer culture eventually co-opted shock value. In Gabliks view, successful artists of the 1970s and early 80s traded their au-tonomy for the money and security of institu-tionalized individuality offered by aggressive art dealers and museums increasingly reliant on corporate support. Gablik argued that by losing its last vestige of belief in spiritual val-ues, art also lost touch with society as a whole. While praising the spiritual dignity of work by Anselm Kiefer and Josef Beuys, she viewed spiritual imagery in neo-expressionist paint-ings with suspicion. How could artists who didnt actively believe in this imagery invest it with mythical power? In the revised edition of her book---which includes two new chap-ters---Gablik revisits the issue of moral vision

in art. She divides the post-9/11 art world into artists whose work promotes the materialism of Western culture and those few who have found a socially redeeming purpose for art. Most controversially, she proposes that the truly significant product of an artist is his life. Her highest praise goes to artists whose work consists of social service projects, whether attempting to feed the hungry or restore damaged ecosystems. Worthy as these proj-ects may be, Gabliks failure to address the aesthetic component of art undermines her views. Her writing can be repetitive, and her arguments, too narrowly focused. But her passion, fearlessness and inclusion of the di-verse viewpoints of artists, critics, dealers and others make her book compelling reading. -Cathy Curtis

http://www.tower.com/has-modernism-failed-suzi-gablik-paper-back/wapi/100718602

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