1998

• A trend in abstract and surrealist artwork, such as A Bigger Grand Canyon, transpired in 1998; this included a keen emphasis on expressionism and sentimentality.

• During this period, a great deal of impeachment and satirisation came about, which, in turn, gave a new light to the purpose of art. Appreciation for artists such as Jackson Pollock demonstrated the aforementioned shift in the paradigm: a novel and different form of art was gaining popularity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• No Woman No Cry embodied the idea of impeachment in that the painting was created in order to draw attention to the bigoted nature of the police.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Ghost, by Ron Mueck, also represents an attempt to hyper-realistically capture the emotions and attitude of humans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Similarly, Angel of the North, designed by Sir Anthony Gormley, is a very revisionist outlook on modern society. It aims to manifest the transition from the industrial era to modern era by reflecting the novel emotions, fears, and hopes that marked the transition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• An appreciation for avant-garde artists saw the exhibition of Kasimir Malevich in Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Kasimir Malevich embodied the subversive nature of the art in 1998.

• Google releases the facsimile of today’s logo. This logo has become a trademark of the largest search engine in the world. The experimentation with the logo was very meticulous. The fixation was worth it because the style evokes very specific emotions and attitudes. The balance between hues and shadows gives the moniker an ambiance of evenness and contentment. It showed how subtle changes can make a huge difference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• In 1998, deconstructivism in architecture also mirrored a progressive shift. Frank Gehry spearheaded this movement through architectural marvels -- such as the Guggenheim Museum (Although this was constructed in 1997).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• The Dentsu Tower was built in 1998. Interestingly, the aim of this tower was to manifest the immateriality of light. The architect sought to uncover a paradox, particularly the contrast between light and immateriality. Again, the practicality of the design was secondary to the aesthetics and acoustics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge was also constructed in 1998. This bridge was a more conventional project with practicality being the primary concern.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Yayoi Kusama was also a avant-garde major figure whose work began to gain recognition at the time. Firstly, she rebelled against Japanese artistic norms; she modeled her work after Western styles, particularly abstract expressionism and surrealism. Kusama had a preference for a more liberal -- and nonconformist -- art scene, which was not encouraged in Japan. Her art aimed to make a statement on constructs like feminism, sexual complexities, and psychology.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey, was released in 1998. It embodies the trends of this era in that it also questions the nature of society and reality. In many ways, the movie satirises our perceptions of utopia. It suggests that it doesn’t exist, and nor is there sincere happiness in it. Also, idiosyncrasies and dissimilarities are important in society as well as awareness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• In the 1998 World Cup, Zinedine Zidane’s electrifying performance peppered the game with two sensational goals giving France a 2-0 lead before half-time. The final score, 3-0, represented a humiliating defeat for the previous World Cup champions, Brazil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• There is no paragon representing the genius and allure of imagination and creativity than Disney. It's ability to encapsulate the childlike awe invoked a sense of freedom in many individuals, including adults. In 1998, he encompassed this idea in a physical reality now known as Disney World in Orlando.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• In addition to Disney World, the imaginary world conceived and created by JK Rowling inspired in children and teenagers a longing to belong to Hogwarts. The characters — Harry, Hermione, and Ron — were lovable and captivating. Never before had a novel had such a pervasive impact on the youth's literary culture. It is a great piece of both literature and art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• The MP3 revolutionised the music industry. It was small, convenient, and cheap. However, we have technologically surpassed this machine. Now our phones deliver these services.​

 

 

 

 

 

 

• The Israel-Palestine conflict has been a topic of great debate. Because of their inability to co-exist, the two nations have been assailed with terrorism. During the 1996-1999 era, the two nations were compelled to sign a peace agreement in the best interests of the citizens. It involved a large amount of foreign intervention.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Capital punishment has always been a controversy. Jurisprudence is inclined to create a fair and just system, yet at the same time, one that is not hypocritical of the values that it embodies. In England, the court decided that you cannot take an eye for an eye, thus banning capital punishment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Bill Clinton was impeached because of his extramarital affair, known as the Lewinsky Scandal, with his secretary. The leader of the most powerful nation in the world was subject to a humiliating crime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• India and Pakistan’s arms and nuclear proliferation was also a major threat. The risk was so great that the US decided to impose economic sanctions on both economies if they didn’t enact attenuating measures. Despite these warnings, the countries continued their nuclear practices to the extent of test explosions as a mean to intimidate the other.

• The US embassies bombed in Kenya by trucks resulted in hundreds of casualties. These bombings, carried out by the al-Qaeda, were ostensibly a consequence of American misdeeds; they tortured members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad. In response to these attacks, President Bill Clinton authorised the missile strikes on Afghanistan and Sudan. In turn, the result was the wrongful destruction of the largest pharmaceutical company -- providing drugs for 50% of the population. The United Nations formally condemned all acts against humanity. The embassy in Nairobi started to be rebuilt. The US also increased aid to Kenya.