Contemporary art

What is contemporary art?

Contemporary art is defined not by style but by time and approach: it is work being made here and now. It deals with identity, politics and technology, and is characterised by a great diversity of media and forms. It takes in digital art, installation, performance and so-called new media (art forms working with video, technology and interactivity). It often responds to current global issues such as the climate crisis or social questions.

What sets contemporary art apart, and how has the viewer's role changed within it?

The transformation of the viewer is one of its most striking features. The viewer is no longer merely a passive observer; on the contrary, they are expected to complete the work by their presence or to handle it physically. Art thus steps out of the frame and draws us inside, into the action. And isn't that a great deal more than simply looking?

Who are the most important contemporary artists?

International names include Ai Weiwei and Damien Hirst, artists able to combine an artistic statement with wide social reach. These are artists whose works move not only exhibition halls but the auction market. And alongside them a whole range of younger artists is emerging, with whom values can change very quickly indeed.

How does contemporary art stand in the Czech context?

Here contemporary art developed fully after 1989, when it joined international trends to a characteristically Czech sense of irony, absurdity and improvisation. Among the most distinctive figures are, without doubt, Kateřina Šedá, Eva Koťátková and Krištof Kintera. It is they who show that Czech contemporary art has no reason whatsoever to shrink into the shadow of the international scene.

Why do prices rise fastest in contemporary art, and where does the risk lie?

Contemporary art is closely bound to the market, where galleries and fairs hold an important place, and it is the most dynamic field of all. Within it lies its youngest floor as well: so-called ultra-contemporary (artists born from roughly 1975 onwards) and wet paint works only a year or two old, which go straight from the studio to auction. This is where prices rise fastest — but so does the risk of a bubble. An exciting adventure for the collector who dares, but with a cool head.

— Anna Pulkertová, founder of Art Part Club