Transition from Modern Art to Postmodern Art

In searching for a way to understand the difference between modernism and post modernism,  I found this helpful description on the Tate Britain website, as a useful starting point:

Postmodernism was, in some ways, a reaction against modernism. Modernism was generally based on idealism and a utopian vision of human life and society and a belief in progress. It assumed that certain ultimate universal principles or truths such as those formulated by religion or science could be used to understand or explain reality. Modernist artists experimented with form, technique and processes rather than focusing on subjects, believing they could find a way of purely reflecting the modern world.

While modernism was based on idealism and reason, postmodernism was born of scepticism and a suspicion of reason. It challenged the notion that there are universal certainties or truths. Postmodern art drew on philosophy of the mid to late twentieth century, and advocated that individual experience and interpretation of our experience was more concrete than abstract principles. While the modernists championed clarity and simplicity; postmodernism embraced complex and often contradictory layers of meaning.

(http://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/p/postmodernism)

In terms of art styles, it was thought that modernist artists were becoming ever more reductive and abstraction focused. Tim Woods (1999) suggested postmodernism is a reaction to being "bored with the incessant drive for ever increasing minimalism and abstraction, post modernism was part of a re-introduction of ornament, morals, allegories and decoration into art." (Beginning Post-Modernism, pub Glasgow, Bell and Bain Ltd). In reference to "morals",  there is a greater "use" of art as a platform to comment socially and politically about moral issues. I would argue that moral issues were very directly commented on by modernist artists, particularly Dada-ist artists such as Hannah Hock making comment about oppression, fragmentation as a consequence of the political European shifts and relationships with power struggle that individual countries and leaders were having.

I am still in love with the early/mid 20th century art and artists!! On my journey into studying post modernism, I will hang onto the learning and respect I developed for modernism and it's pioneers.

I am also excited to be learning something new and to explore different styles and techniques, finding out what my contempories are saying through their art. I think that is part of my resistance in embracing postmodernism fully. I notice that I'm also suspicious. Established postmodernist artists are of my own generation and there's a sense of therefore being a part of something that I should feel, understand, be implicit with and naturally connect with. Perhaps its a form of sibling rivalry!!!!!!! I say that tongue in cheek but at the same time it is much easier to respect and explore a phase of history that feels ended, complete and distant. Like talking about your grandparents has a different sense than talking about your brother. Their is a current dynamic that is still lively and alive, shifting day to day and not concluded. It's great, but messy.