Post - Modernism V&A

At the beginning of this project we visited the V&A's post-modern exhibition. Even though it was a vast exhibition, there was definitely something there for everyone. The collection ranges from fine art, to ceramics, architecture, video, instillations, photography, conceptual pieces and fashion. The entire exhibition was lit using neon lighting dotted throughout as the use of bold colour and geometric form to determine the layout of the space.

Post-modern art is a term used to describe an art movement which was thought to be in contradiction to some aspect of modernism, or to have emerged or developed in its aftermath. There are several characteristics which define the term 'post-modern' in art; these include bricolage, the use of words prominently as the central artistic element, collage, simplification, appropriation, performance art, the recycling of past styles and themes in a modern-day context, as well as the break-up of the barrier between fine and high arts and low art and popular culture.

These are the notes I made during the exhibition. I tried to note down all the elements that I found inspiring and naturally I did gravitate toward the fashion and textiles pieces, however the architecture and working drawings at the beginning did capture my eye too. After learning about post-modern architecture for my A level history of art, seeing buildings by Robert Venturi and Frank Gehry contextualised in an exhibition really helped to secure that knowledge I had learnt, and with it brought interest to an area I wouldn't normally gravitate to.