neomodernist

Neomodernist is a designation applied to proponents of neomodernism, a broad cultural tendency that seeks to reassert modernist principles for the contemporary world. It appears across architecture, art and design, literature, and philosophy, and does not represent a single school or manifesto.

Origins and aims: Emerging in the late 20th and early 21st centuries as a response to postmodern eclecticism, neomodernism emphasizes clarity of form, functional design, and fidelity to material truth and process. Proponents typically favor restraint, universalist ideals tied to reason and progress, and the use of technology to improve efficiency and quality of experience. They also integrate concerns of sustainability and global context.

Architecture and design: In architecture and product design, neomodernism favors simple geometries, honest materials, open spaces, and strong daylight. It often employs digital fabrication, modular systems, and sustainable strategies, aiming for long-term durability and a sense of timelessness rather than novelty for its own sake.

Visual arts and literature: In the arts, neomodernists pursue pared-down aesthetics, geometric abstraction, or lucid narrative forms, while experimenting with media such as digital imaging, responsive installations, or cross-disciplinary collaboration. In philosophy and critical theory, neomodernist thought tends to reaffirm Enlightenment rationality, albeit with critical awareness of technology, power, and global interdependence.

Reception and usage: The term is contested and situational; some critics view neomodernism as a legitimate continuation of modernist project, others see it as marketing shorthand or a misnomer. Because practices vary widely, neomodernism is not governed by a fixed doctrine.