Glossary
Audience Engagement
The way an artwork invites or requires the viewer to interact with it, either physically, emotionally, or intellectually, making them an active participant rather than a passive observer.
Example:
A performance piece where the artist directly addresses and involves members of the crowd demonstrates strong audience engagement.
Environmental art
A broad category of art that addresses the natural environment, often using natural materials or creating works that interact with the landscape.
Example:
Robert Smithson's Spiral Jetty is a famous example of environmental art, a massive earthwork built into a lake.
Environmental installation
A large-scale artwork created for a specific outdoor or indoor environment, often interacting with its surroundings and transforming the viewer's perception of the space.
Example:
An artist might create an environmental installation by weaving massive, colorful nets between trees in a forest, altering the natural light and pathways.
Ephemeral art
Artworks that are intentionally temporary or transient, designed to exist for a limited time, emphasizing the experience and memory over a permanent physical object.
Example:
A sand sculpture meticulously crafted on a beach, knowing it will be washed away by the tide, is a poignant example of ephemeral art.
Experiential Art
Art that emphasizes the viewer's direct participation and sensory engagement, often designed to create a memorable and immersive experience rather than just a visual one.
Example:
A walk-through maze made of light and sound would be a prime example of experiential art, inviting visitors to navigate and feel the space.
Installation art
An art form that involves the creation of a specific environment or experience, often occupying an entire room or space and transforming it for the viewer.
Example:
Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirror Rooms are iconic examples of installation art, creating immersive, reflective spaces that seem to extend endlessly.
Perception
The way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted, often explored in art through optical illusions, altered perspectives, or challenging conventional views.
Example:
Op Art, with its dizzying patterns, directly manipulates the viewer's perception to create a sense of movement or vibration.
Scale
The size of an artwork in relation to its surroundings, other artworks, or the human body, used by artists to create impact, convey meaning, or alter perception.
Example:
The monumental scale of Richard Serra's massive steel sculptures often makes viewers feel small and overwhelmed, emphasizing the material's weight and presence.
Site-specific art
Art created specifically for a particular location, with its meaning and form intrinsically linked to that site, and often unable to be fully appreciated elsewhere.
Example:
A mural painted directly onto a historic building, incorporating architectural details into its design, is a classic example of site-specific art.
Temporary Nature
A characteristic of artworks designed to exist for a limited duration, emphasizing the fleeting moment, memory, and the process of creation and disappearance.
Example:
A sculpture made entirely of ice that slowly melts away over a week exemplifies the temporary nature of certain artworks.
Transformation
A key theme in art referring to a significant change in form, appearance, character, or nature, often explored in relation to life cycles, spiritual journeys, or societal shifts.
Example:
An artwork depicting a caterpillar evolving into a butterfly visually explores the theme of transformation.
Video art
An art form where video technology is used as a medium, often exploring themes of time, perception, and the moving image.
Example:
Nam June Paik is considered a pioneer of video art, using televisions and video cameras to create groundbreaking electronic sculptures.
Video installation
A contemporary art form that uses video technology and often multiple screens or projections within a defined space to create an immersive experience.
Example:
A gallery might feature a video installation where projections of swirling galaxies cover the walls, making viewers feel like they are floating in space.