Professor Ruth Dundas
The Crucible of Change: Shaping Art in the Tumultuous 1960s
The decade of the 1960s wasn’t merely a period; it was an eruption – a seismic shift in societal norms, political landscapes, and, crucially, artistic expression. Emerging from the shadows of post-war austerity and the lingering anxieties of the Cold War, artists responded with a radical reimagining of what art could be, challenging established conventions and embracing new ma
terials, techniques, and conceptual approaches. This wasn’t simply about creating beautiful objects; it was about provoking thought, questioning authority, and reflecting the turbulent realities of a world grappling with civil rights, social unrest, and burgeoning technological advancements. The seeds of this transformation were sown in the preceding decades, particularly through the legacy of Abstract Expressionism, but by the mid-60s…
