Vision

Contemporary art reflects the aesthetic tastes and inclinations of the present, and thereby speaks directly to current onlookers. Aside from art made by practicing established or emerging artists, it covers historical works made from the 1970s onwards. Contemporary artists are particularly stimulating thanks to the near-absolute freedom they enjoy in challenging prevailing cultural and social concepts and norms. Yet figurative, topically more conventional contemporary art is no less relevant or appealing, as evidenced for example by David Hockney (British, b. 1937) or Nicolas Party (Swiss, b. 1980), who have revisited the seemingly dull art of landscape and still life painting to convey stylistic and chromatic singularity and excitement.

The strength of contemporary art is its ability to redefine beauty for today’s world according to its references and expectations without failing to amaze by the choice of subject matter, style, medium, or by voluptuousness and wit. Contemporary art also differentiates itself by its global outreach and sensitivity, as well as its engagement for social tolerance and acceptance, for open minds and open hearts, for the appreciation of nature, for justice. Artists spark debate by critiquing mores and accepted behaviors, prejudices, or what they view as compulsions or repressions. This need not require a departure from attractiveness: Subtlety, humor, and a positive proposition are usually more effective means in achieving the purported aims.

Contemporary art is an ongoing experiment and continues to raise questions on what art should be and do with what mediums and technologies. It has also opened the way for a new inclusiveness in diversity of provenance and identity. Artists from Africa, the Americas, Asia, or Europe are part of the same community of values with distinct individual styles. Different walks and ways of life are indifferently appraised, whereas in intimate depictions love is love.