21st Century Art

Over the past decade, art has taken an incredible variety of forms. One particular tendency of the present moment involves co-opting the public sphere (both analogue and digital) as a venue for artistic interventions, which has blurred the distinctions between artist, curator, and activist. Ambitious public projects such as Olafur Eliasson’s Waterfalls coexist with increasing interest in street art and DIY practice. Christian Marclay’s The Clock combines rigorous archival research with an interest in the history of popular media, while socially-engaged practice has garnered both popular participation and official sanction, ranging from Carsten Höller’s spectacular installations to Pussy Riot’s political actions. Amidst the diversity of contemporary art though it is easy to forget the long-standing traditions of painting and sculpture remain central to artistic production.