Tariku Shiferaw

1. Is there a sensibility to abstract artwork at this moment? If so, how would you characterize it? 

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There is a sensibility to abstraction in this particular moment. In Western art history, artists leaned towards abstraction during complex political atmospheres. For example, the Russian Constructivists made thought-provoking geometric abstraction using subtle symbolism and titles to engage class issues and political ideologies during the Russian civil war. Similarly, so much is happening in our world today regarding human rights issues, and multiple oppositional thoughts surround each subject. Abstraction can be a place to engage sensitive and thought-provoking topics, but the sensibilities towards it are slightly convoluted by the power of the art market, which is more influential today than ever. While thought-provocation may be a reason for artists, curators, and critics to lean towards abstraction, it’s important to recognize that the market also influences the types of works that are exhibited in both commercial galleries and public institutions. It’s the reason why the sensibility around abstraction right now doesn’t quite feel natural. 

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2. Is there an avant-garde? If so, what is its nature?

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My understanding of the avant-garde within art is having some sort of new, unusual, or experimental ideas. So, yes, there is an avant-garde taking place in the arts today. The special respect and attention given towards artists of color, women, and Indigenous artists has brought in new voices with different ideas that were previously dismissed, and this continues to challenge the status quo. These practices are not necessarily embedded in abstraction; they span multiple art disciplines. The avant-garde, in this case, is the collection of voices of marginalized artists using multiple forms of art to express themselves and engage the politics of today. 

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