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Essay / Analysis of how works by contemporary artists push the boundaries of conventional art
For many years, very specific creations have been considered art. There were strict regulations on the composition of a work of art, including rules on medium, theme, and technique. This idea was completely reconstructed with the contemporary art movement in the 1950s. Contemporary art is a very difficult movement to define, but it was classified as any art made in our lifetime, in the late 20th and at the beginning of the 21st century, following the modern and postmodern art movements. These artists fought to redefine what is considered art. I strive as an artist to break the molds of what people consider art and move beyond traditional ideas. To a large extent, artists such as Guillermo Vargas Jiménez and Park Ki Pyung are relevant examples of contemporary artists who have broken the conventional mold of what is considered art and have inspired artists like me. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayGuillermo Vargas Jiménez became infamous for his work, Eres Lo Que Lees (You Are What You Read) (Image A). This work caused an international outcry due to the medium used. Vargas took a homeless dog named "Natividad" and placed him in an art gallery. The dog was tied to a fixed wire against the walls in a corner of the gallery. The title of the artwork (Eres LO Que Lees) was written on dog biscuits next to the dog but just out of his reach. It was later revealed to the press that the dog had died in the gallery. Vargas' works highlight how hypocritical people are. They don't think about the millions of dogs dying in the streets, but when they are faced with the reality of what they have tried so hard to ignore, they have someone to blame. The artwork invaded their personal space, forcing them to address the issue of neglect of starving animals in Central America. Later, when asked if the dog was actually dead, he refused to comment. However, the gallery director insisted that the dog was fed and released by Vargas right after the exhibition. He is a self-taught artist, which is reflected in his unusual works. He uses garish methods to attract attention. However, he believes it's the only way people can begin to recognize the issues they'd rather ignore. Analyzing my own contemporary artwork, it is evident that I was inspired by the idea of taking a taboo subject, as Vargas did, and creating a work of art from it by bringing it in people’s “private space”. Vargas chose to impose the idea of animal cruelty on wealthy and upper-class members of society. I chose to push the issue of poverty into the space of my classmates who have never suffered from it. In my drawing When South Africans Meet (Image B and C), I not only force the viewer to recognize his prejudices, but in the same vein, I was also forced to see beyond this man's pseudo status in the Company. By presenting two images of equal size and with proportionate portraits, I likened myself to the beggar and showed him as a worthy subject. By depicting someone living in poverty as art, I changed the connotations of poverty. Therefore, just like Vargas, my works were controversial by challenging the stereotypes of our society. He fought against traditional ideas of art by completely destroying the idea of creating something.