Heritage and Identity in the Art at the Turn of the 21st Century. An Introduction
Heritage and Identity in the Art at the Turn of the 21st Century. An Introduction

Summary/Abstract: The article starts with an attempt to define heritage and identity in context of the philosophy of mind, psychology and anthropology. The ideas of Derrida (bricolage) and Gadamer (plurality in European heritage), Kierkegaard (will to be or not to be oneself), Heiddegger (“being”, to be up against the Self), Ricoeur (dialogue with the Other) are especially emphasized. The problems indicated in the descriptive definitions are found in the selected examples of art works of the late 20th century (Bourgeois, Kiefer, Kantor, Vasulka) and of the turn of the 21st century (Barney, Orlan, Cattelan, Walker, Polish critical art, art in the virtual reality). The issues of thinking, memory, nationality, race, the Other and the relationship between body and mind, as well as the presence of various “texts” are analyzed transdisciplinarily illustrated by the examples of sculpture, painting, theatre, installation and video installation. Possible evolution of postmodern art is considered. The final conclusion presents the long lasting domination of thinking in the experience of art in the 20th and 21st centuries. Such interpretative thinking allows us to see the artistic attempts to name and investigate the human determinants (often identified with what is inherited) as well as the tendency to free the Self (to be up against it). The unavoidable heritage proves, however, to be the area of finding what is both common and individual, essential for identity. On the other hand, the conclusion maintains the idea of metaphysical beauty (which might be hidden under subversive irony) as the main factor in art. Finally, metaphysical experience remains the area of freedom necessary for one to find one’s identity.

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