Contemporary Art

Starting at the end of the 20th century and as a consequence of the increasingly close-knit global network, a type of art arose with the goal of forming a global community of contemporaries without borders. International art fairs and worldwide biannual shows inaugurated this embarkation into the global era. Gallery owners or curators at these fairs and shows presented international and regional contemporary art at new venues to an audience with an affinity for art. This genre of art is no longer described as “modern” because that term is already used for Classic Modern and Postmodern art. It is accordingly not coincidental that the word “modern” has been replaced by “contemporary” in the names of museums and the catalogues of fairs and biannual shows.

The term “contemporary art” or “art of the present day” is not associated with any particular statement about concept, artistic style, technique, form, adherence to a specific artistic trend or movement, or membership in a certain group. Contemporary art can be painting, but it can also exist in a form that has only recently established itself during the past years or decades, for example, video art, performance or concept art.

It was no coincidence that art KARLSRUHE gave the very youngest art its own hall. In the dm-arena, where the fair's award ceremonies and the ARTIMA art meeting also take place, a very special atmosphere develops, an atmosphere dedicated to debate. Because where contemporary art of the still uncertain kind is shown, where experimentation also has a chance, controversy is the order of the day.

In the Discover hall, paintings, sculptures, installations, drawings and photographs by young artists can be seen and purchased. They deal with climate or gender research, for example, or with questions of power or powerlessness. Discover wants to be perceived in close dialogue with the issues of the day.