Avant Garde Themes In Contemporary Artwork

This is a project assigned for the ARH 212: Art History III: Revolt, Reform, Critique course at Elon University for Spring 2013 for Dr. Courtnay Micots. I argue that there is a strong commonality between these 19th century French artists concepts and the contemporary concepts of Michael Fels; both bodies of work serve as a critique of the institutionalized nature of art. While the avant-garde movement starting in the 19th century critiqued the art institutions affinity towards idealized naturalism, Fels’s work continues this line of thinking, questioning contemporary institutionalized art conventions. His works Crows Funeral and Wabi Sabi are both challenge contemporary techniques and learned ascetic.