Metamodernism: Finding Beauty in the Space Between
Ever wonder why today's art feels different? Why can some artworks be deeply serious and playfully ironic simultaneously? Or why do artists seem to bounce between pure sincerity and knowing scepticism? Welcome to the age of metamodernism.
From Faith to Doubt and Back Again: A Quick Journey Through Time
Picture this: Not long ago, we lived in a world of certainties. People believed in progress, technology, and the power of human reason to solve all problems. Artists created bold, revolutionary works that celebrated this optimistic vision. This was modernism – think Picasso's confident experimentation or the bold vision of architects designing entire cities of the future.
But then something shifted. People started noticing that all those grand promises weren't quite working out. Enter postmodernism, the era of raised eyebrows and knowing smirks. Artists began questioning everything, using irony and cynicism as their weapons of choice. Nothing was sacred; everything was up for critique.
Where Are We Now?
Today's cultural landscape is more complex. While some creators still chase the next significant innovation and others maintain a cynical distance, many artists are finding a new way forward. And that's where metamodernism comes in – not as just another art movement, but as a way of understanding how we navigate this complicated world.
Why It Matters
Think of metamodernism as a pendulum swing rather than a fixed position. Sometimes, we need hope and sincerity; other times, we need scepticism and critique. Today's artists aren't choosing sides – they're learning to dance between these positions. They're saying it's okay to be optimistic, doubtful, sincere, savvy, traditional, and innovative.
Several frameworks have tried to capture this contemporary moment: New Sincerity champions authenticity, Transmodernism looks toward spirituality, and others focus on our digital reality. However, metamodernism, introduced by cultural thinkers Timotheus Vermeulen and Robin van den Akker in 2010, has emerged as the most compelling way to understand what's happening in art and culture today.
What Does Metamodernism Look Like in Real Life?
Let's break this down into something we can all recognize. Do you know that feeling when you post something sincere on social media but add a funny emoji to show you're also kidding? Or when you genuinely love something while being aware of its flaws? That's the metamodern sensibility in everyday life.
In art, it gets even more enjoyable. Here's how artists are working in this new way:
Finding Beauty in the Balance
Today's artists are fearless in mixing different approaches. They might use traditional painting techniques to comment on digital culture or create seemingly simple works with deep meaning. It's like being in on a joke while also taking it seriously.
Meet the Artists Making It Happen
Linas Kaziulionis: Playing with Today's Information Overload
Walking into a gallery filled with Kaziulionis's work is like stepping into a vibrant feast for the eyes and mind. His large-scale paintings burst with images of food – hamburgers floating alongside classical still-life elements, pizza slices mingling with data visualizations. But these aren't simply paintings about food; they're clever metaphors for how we consume information in our digital age.
Kaziulionis's approach, particularly metamodern, is his playful yet pointed engagement with serious issues. Instead of taking the postmodern route of cynical criticism or the modernist path of earnest protest, he's created his narrative universe. At the centre of this world is an elaborate conspiracy theory of his own making – a fictional narrative about food and information that weaves through his paintings like a digital-age mythology.
His recent series exploring misinformation and conspiracy theories doesn't preach or condemn. Instead, it invites viewers to reflect on how we process information through layers of bright colours, familiar imagery, and unexpected juxtapositions. A hamburger might appear alongside classical painting references, while social media icons float through compositions like modern-day religious symbols. Its severe cultural commentary is wrapped in the accessible language of pop culture. It serves with a side of humour—quintessentially metamodern in its ability to be deeply engaged and lightly playful.
Mouk: Keeping it Real with a Modern Twist
In an art world often obsessed with concept over craft, Mouk stands out for his bold embrace of painting's fundamental pleasures. His work demonstrates that being contemporary doesn't mean abandoning tradition – instead, it's about finding new relevance in timeless approaches.
Mouk's portraits and still lifes echo modernist masters like Matisse and Cézanne, but they're firmly rooted in the present moment. His figures often appear in contemporary settings or with modern elements, creating an intriguing dialogue between past and present. The way he handles paint—bold, confident strokes alongside areas of subtle nuance—speaks to both classical training and contemporary sensibility.
His work is metamodern because it honestly engages with the painting's history while remaining utterly contemporary. His still lifes might feature traditional subjects like fruit or flowers, but their composition and colour choices feel fresh and relevant. It's like he's having an ongoing conversation with art history while speaking in today's language. This approach embodies metamodernism's ability to find new meaning in traditional forms without irony or nostalgia.
Vygintas Stankus: Finding Peace in Chaos
The late Vygintas Stankus's legacy offers a powerful example of metamodernism's ability to bridge seemingly opposite approaches. As an abstract expressionist working in post-Soviet Lithuania, Stankus developed a unique artistic voice that combined explosive energy with meditative calm, expressive freedom, and disciplined practice.
His large-scale abstract works, created through a process he developed over decades, show how metamodernism can manifest through artistic practice. Stankus would often work in intense bursts of activity, applying paint with gestural freedom, but these moments of spontaneity were balanced by periods of careful contemplation and subtle adjustments. This approach – alternating between action and reflection – created works that vibrate with dynamic energy and peaceful resolution.
Stankus's studio practice was equally metamodern in its combination of ritual and experimentation. He often meditated before painting, creating a centred state from which spontaneous expression could flow. His use of materials was similarly dual-natured – traditional oil paints might be combined with unconventional materials, creating surfaces that reward immediate emotional response and prolonged contemplation.
Though he passed away in 2018, Stankus's influence continues through his works, demonstrating how apparent opposites – chaos and order, spontaneity and control, tradition and innovation – can coexist in individual paintings and an entire artistic practice. His legacy shows us that metamodernism isn't just a theoretical framework but a lived approach to creating art that embraces life's fundamental contradictions while finding beauty in their resolution.
How to Spot Metamodernism in Art
Next time you're at a gallery or scrolling through art online, look for works that:
• Feel both severe and playful
• Mix old and new techniques
• Seem sincere but self-aware
• Address significant issues without being preachy
• Make you think while making you feel
What Makes Today Different?
Let's put it all in perspective:
The Modernist Way: "We can fix everything with progress!"
The Postmodernist Way: "Everything is broken, and nothing means anything."
The Metamodernist Way: "Things are complicated, but let's work with that."
Why This Matters Now
In a world where we're all trying to figure out how to stay hopeful while staying real, metamodernism offers a way forward. It tells us it's okay to:
• Hope for better while acknowledging problems
• Use tradition while embracing innovation
• Be sincere while staying smart
• Feel deeply while thinking critically
The New Art Market: Collecting in the Metamodern Age
The landscape of art collecting has shifted dramatically in recent years. Today's collectors seek out works that do more than please the eye or promise good investment returns. They're looking for art that tells the complex stories of our times – works that can hold multiple meanings and grow richer with each viewing. These collectors understand that great contemporary art often works on various levels, connecting with history and future possibilities while offering layers of meaning that unfold over time.
The relationship between art's financial and cultural value has entered fascinating new territory in the metamodern age. While investment potential remains important, collectors are increasingly drawn to artists who can spark meaningful dialogue and create community engagement. There's a growing understanding that an artwork's value lies not just in its market price but in its ability to generate ongoing conversation and connection.
Many collectors now see themselves as cultural participants rather than just buyers. They're interested in artists who can work across multiple mediums and who aren't afraid to experiment with new forms while maintaining a connection to artistic traditions. This shift reflects a broader change in how we think about value in the art world—it's no longer just about owning an object but about participating in a cultural conversation.
The Future of Art: Where Are We Heading?
The art world is experiencing a thrilling period of transformation. Traditional boundaries between different art forms are dissolving, creating new hybrid forms that unexpectedly combine digital and physical elements. Community-based projects are reimagining the relationship between artists and audiences, while new exhibition formats are challenging traditional art world structures.
For art lovers, this is a fascinating time. The metamodern approach has opened up new ways of creating and experiencing art that combine depth with accessibility and technical innovation with emotional resonance. Artists are more accessible than ever, ready to share their processes and thoughts directly with their audiences. At the same time, art addresses some of our time's most pressing issues while maintaining its capacity for personal connection and poetic expression.
A Final Thought
Metamodernism is relevant because it reflects how many of us already feel. In a more connected yet often isolated world, where information is everywhere but wisdom can be scarce, we need ways to navigate complexity without getting lost in it.
The artists we've explored aren't just doing exciting work – they're showing us ways to exist in today's world. Like skilled tightrope walkers, they demonstrate how to keep moving forward while maintaining balance between different positions. And maybe that's what we're all learning to do, whether making art or just trying to make sense of the world around us.
Metamodernism is not considered an art movement but a life skill for the 21st century. It's about learning to dance with contradiction, to find meaning in the movement between different positions rather than trying to choose just one place to stand. In art, as in life, sometimes the most meaningful path isn't about finding final answers but about staying open to possibilities while keeping our balance as we move forward. wonder why today's art feels different? Why can some artworks be deeply serious and playfully ironic simultaneously? Or why do artists seem to bounce between pure sincerity and knowing scepticism? Welcome to the age of metamodernism.