Culture can be represented through visual images, where the observer is expected to interpret and decode meaning. Different types of artwork are considered to connect with artists using digital technologies to incorporate cultures in objects such as images and photographs. Contemporary visual work has been enhanced by the advancements in technology, as artists connect to history through paints, photographs, and drawings in a more modernized manner. This essay is an exploration of the “Portrait of an artist (pool with two figures)” and “A bigger splash” images which are listed among the top 10 famous contemporary artworks from the Learnodo Newton website.
Contemporary images reflect cultures that have shaped our modern world. Many artists explore personal and cultural identities to offer critiques and redefinition of artists’ work. The portrait of a pool with two figures represents pop art that challenged traditions from popular cultures. The art is owned by David Hockney, who was a prominent figure in the pop art movement. The portrait brings together the swimming pool and two human beings, where one is swimming breaststroke underwater and the second person is looking down at the swimmer. My second encounter is still owned by Hockney and depicts a sun-drenched swimming pool beside a pink building with a modern design. The art is devoid of human presence by showing the splash without the swimmer. The intentions for creating this painting were to enlarge and simplify an earlier painting “A little splash,” although Hockey commented that it is difficult to see a splash because it happens quickly. In conclusion, artworks have a hidden meaning that can be interpreted differently depending on the viewer’s perception. Some images are used to connect past practices and the modern world, such as culturalism and social customs.