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Installation Art Online Workshop The AccessArt Installation Art workshop was created in collaboration with artists Idit Nathan and Kirsten Lavers. This online workshop is based upon an actual installation which Idit and Kirsten created at Impington Village College, Cambridge. The resulting online workshop can be used by students and teachers to explore some of the ideas behind installation art, and to inspire the creation of their own installations.
The online workshop and text below covers: - Key ideas: What is installation art; Key Ideas: What is Installation Art
Installation Art: Object, Environment or Sculpture? Installation art is not about making one object, or one sculpture, instead it is about the relationships between objects, materials or things and the context (place) that they are in. Installation art is about making art for a particular space. Rather than make a single piece of sculpture or a painting which is then displayed in a gallery, Installation artists make art specifically for a particular place. Installation Art & Research When an artist is making an installation they usually start by finding out as much as they can about the space that they are making the installation for (rather than starting with the painting/drawing or sculpture and putting it in a space when it's finished). They might research the factors which make it a place: e.g. shape, light, sound, materials, function, history, context, people who use it etc. Installation Art as an experience Installations cannot be moved to another space without radically changing them (unlike a single piece of sculpture or painting). Installations are often temporary and can't be bought sold like more traditional art objects. Visiting an installation is about being in something rather than looking at something. There is usually a physical experience of involvement, e.g. walking through the space. Installations often involve the viewer's senses of smell, hearing, touch and sometimes even taste. They can also often be highly interactive and invite the audience to make things happen. The installation itself can guide this activity - or sometimes text can be provided to encourage exploration. An installation doesn't have to be a big space that you can walk around or in (although they usually are) - it could be a desk, a box, a drawer, the palm of your hand - as long as the space you are using is considered part of the art work. To make a personal response or statement about a space - your bedroom could be seen as an installation - the way you've arranged your possessions tells a lot about you as a person. To give people an opportunity to see and experience a space in a different way or from another perspective (e.g. Christo, Boltanski) To convey a particular message or idea (e.g. The Library, Beneath The Surface) To celebrate, commemorate or make a place special for a particular event (e.g. Christmas displays, Rachel Whiteread's House) Which materials does an installation artist use? Almost anything from engine oil to flowers!!!! Literally whatever material suits the job.
Lots of something - usually has a big impact - a bold statement Think about smell, sound, light Think about detail as well as overall impact Think about letting people know how to behave in the installation - usual 'don't touch' art rules need not apply - how will they know? Other Installation artists you might want to research Cornelia Parker Christian Boltanski Christo Rachel Whiteread You (your bedroom! - I bet you didn't know you were an installation artist?) (Teachers may wish to copy and paste this worksheet to suit their needs). This Worksheet has been designed to enable you to start researching a space in which you might create an installation. Once you have completed this sheet you might want to go on and create an installation for real - or create an imaginary one on paper/or as a small model. Your space may well be somewhere that you pass and use every day and may even taken for granted. Today we want you to look at it completely afresh. Here are a few questions and ideas about ways of doing this you should use them as guidelines. Try and answer the following and add anything else you wish. Please write the name of your space here:
1. Describe the space briefly in words. Does it have a name? - What is it used for? Does it have more than one use? Is it a public space or a private space? How would you refer to it if you were telling one of your friends to meet you there? 2. Make a quick (5 mins) sketch of the space on a separate piece of paper. 3. How big is the space? How can you measure it without a ruler - be inventive! 4. Now examine the space very closely as if you were detective looking for clues. Find a small detail in the space that interests you and make a drawing of it and describe it here in words. 5 Do you know of or have a personal story or memory about this space? Or maybe you know something historical or factual about this particular space? 7. If the space were a colour what would it be? 8. If the space were a …………………. what would it be? You get the idea! Ask each other at least four more questions like this and make a note of your answers. 9. In your opinion what is the most important or interesting thing or characteristic of the space? And why? 10. What is superfluous (unnecessary) to this space? And why? 11. What do you not like most about this space? 12. What do you like most about this space? Want more? Become a member of AccessArt Tell us what you think and what you'd like to see on AccessArt |
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