Contemporary Art and Social Media
5 min read
Contemporary art, predominantly known as the ‘art of today,’ is a form of expression where artists reflect society. It comprises artists from the 20th and the 21st century. Contemporary art is part of the musings of society, family, culture, and nationality. It is a chief element of today’s society.
Social media is another form of expression which does not require any form of medium but instead a platform to voice your views. It gives you the power to select the means of communicating of your choice.
Both social media and contemporary art are major constituents of this society where everyone is striving to get their voice heard.
History of Contemporary Art
You might be a little surprised to find out that the ‘art of today’ does have a long history and isn’t as modern as it seems to be. It started around the time when the modern art era ended, which is why it is often labeled as ‘modern’ art instead of contemporary.
It started with the Pop art of the 1950-70s. Then came along Photorealism, Conceptualism, Minimalism, Performance art as well as Installation art. Earth art was also a phase however not as significant as the rest. Then came street art which is still alive in the streets of all hoods.
Types of contemporary art
Art can never be expressed through a single medium. A brush, a pencil, or paper simply cannot convey all that goes in the mind of every individual. This is why every type of art has several forms which give everyone the independence to deliver their ideas the way they like.
Types of contemporary art include;
- Painting
- Architecture
- Sculpture
- Literature
- Music
- Performing arts
- Cinema
Are social media and contemporary art related?
Are you an artist however do not have the audience you need to showcase your talents? Or are you a thinker with the wrong mindsets in front of you? This is where the power of social media unifies with contemporary art to create a form so strong, it can revolutionaries the world.
While it is pretty evident that social media and contemporary art are spectrums of their own, they are widely interlinked through several areas. Both are forms of expression that help convey the thought process of an individual. Social media uses online platforms while contemporary art is more unwired. However, contemporary art can be portrayed through social media.
One can use the innumerous benefits of social media to manifest their notions to any listening audience.
How to publish art on social media
Almost everyone has access to social media these days, whether it be Snapchat, Instagram, Tumblr, or even plain ol’ Facebook. All these platforms are used to promote art in various forms. You are just a click away from capturing your art and getting millions to appreciate it.
The only thing you need to have is a high-quality camera to capture the essence of your masterpiece. Any camera would work but to get your work to shine through? You surely need one with a high resolution.
People often have the misconception that your art can only be recognized when you have a large fan following. What they miss out on, however, is that what gets them that large fan base?
Overcoming saturation
As the power of social media becomes acknowledged, more and more people strive to achieve success and fame. This results in saturation in almost every niche – even in things you won’t even consider a niche!
The recipe for getting noticed in this sea of brilliance is being distinctive, having consistency, and being passionate as anything. Seeking to reduce hierarchy is pointless as art isn’t a form where you get to the top through connections. Social media ensures that you only get the most honest audience that likes you for who you are.
Simply show yourself – be vulnerable, be raw, and be true through your art and you’ll be at the top in no time!
Handy tips to becoming noticed on social media
There are a few tips you must add to your list of to-dos for becoming an online artist, more so known as an ‘influencer’ these days.
- Pick a relatable niche
People feed on empathy, it is one of their primitive needs hence they listen when someone talks to or about them. Picking a niche that people find more relatable is the secret to success. You can pick writing but write what people want to hear with your own little twist. It will make you different while keeping you in with the public.
- Keep it more visual
Nobody has the time to stop and read pages on how the world is flat however if you did that through a short movie or an innovative mosaic, it will guarantee you a look or two.
- Engage your audience
Asking questions, requesting feedback, announcing giveaways – anything that will have the people engage is one of the keys to success. When you notice your audience, your audience notices you!
- Use hashtags
Keeping up with the trends is crucial when you want to enter the social media race. Everyone wants to be updated and they achieve this satisfaction through following trends. So to get noticed, become a trend yourself!
- Be flexible
Sticking to rules might be beneficial for some but with social media where the world changes every second, this is not the way to go. You need to have a niche flexible enough to be molded when needed.
- Keep it real, keep it you!
Lastly, keep it real. You need to let your inner personality shine through and make people fall in love with it. Anyone can present a faux personality and have people admire it but in the long run, this will come down. People will see through and if you’re not real, you won’t get appreciated.
Conclusion
Contemporary art is a huge part of the world we live in, in fact, you might have it going around more than you notice. Social media is a means of representing contemporary art and people who need to get their thoughts out there use it well.
Now that you know all there is to know about contemporary art, social media, and the relation between the two, you can use it to your benefit.
If this article was helpful, let me know in the comments elbow, also be sure to let me know what you would like to hear next!
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