Influential Work In The History of Installation Art

Installation art is defined as a piece of art history where a space that is 3d. thee these pieces are often described as “larger-than-life pieces of artwork.” This art is usually placed strategically and has meaning to the art its self (tate1). This style of art originated in 1957 by one of the first groups of antiwar artists in japan known as the Gutai (taste2). This group was made of post-World War Two Japanese artist by the names of Murakami, Shiraga, and Shimamoto (met).

People where quick to reject this art they had produced. But I would argue that this art was more influential and needed at this time then it ever was before. These antiwar installations where used as a sign of the Signiant damage japan took in World War Two.

This style of art unlike Fluxus is meant to make you ask a question and leave you wondering on the answer (the met). These installations are usually made after during a tragedy thye are also made as a tribute sometimes.

Just take the piece named “untitled” witch Felix Torres made in honor of partner who died of aids (rena). These arts have been around for a short period of time but they have made a huge impact on the art world.

This artistic movement has inspired many people and brought all kinds of new artist to light. But this whole art movement started because artist wanted to ask the hard questions in a form of art. Most of these artists firmly believe in what they make there piece on.

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As well as they like to make a huge statement. Because of this being such a recent topic this movement dose not yet have a manifesto. But it would not surprise me due to the intellectuals creating this art one could be created sooner than later.

It is argued that the earliest form of installation art is Donald Judds “Wooden Boxes.” This is just simply a bunch of wooden boxes in a room but it means much more (Judd foundation). This piece of art was the only of kind from Judd it pushed the envelope. He also had many people scratching there heads for an answer as to why he would create this piece. No one has or ever will come up with a defenite reason he made these boxes this scene will just be open to perception. This is not even one of the main pieces of the installation art era this was just one of the first.

Even with all that you must remember that even thought it was around during doanld Judd’s days this is still the most recent art style. This movement has built off the need for new more modern ways to express emotion in art and this style has made it to where this is able to be done. This style of art attacks a specific topic and takes a stand on one side of any argument. These arts can also be used to try to edge in peace. But there is no denying that these arts are used to make a stand.

There are many artist in this movement but a few of the most popular and influential are. Ai WeiWei this man is a Chinese artist has who often makes work about Asian life and immigration. He has many different pieces in multiple famous museums he is most famous for his work named Sunflower Seeds. This piece is “made up of millions of small works, each apparently identical, but actually unique.” At first glance this piece appears to be a bunch of seeds laid out across a room but it is actually a bunch of seeds that are made of porcelain which is somonis with china and it culture. He also has a piece titled “Fragments” which is what he calls a “irrational structure” (Smithsonian). In this work he used old iron wood pillars and beams that where brought from the Qing dynasty’s temples that where destroyed. This is the type of work he is known for when he pushes the envelope and risk getting himself into trouble with the museums. But he is one of the most recent artists to burst on to the scene but has made a big impact.

Ai is a great artist but he is not as well-known as others, so he is not able to be as influential on a wide scale. Whereas Charles Ledray is a popular artist who would be able tp get his work out to a large amount of people. Ledray took a liking at an early age to sewing and the enhanced his performance with his craft. He is known as the ‘the best-kept secret of the contemporary art world.'(the bass). His skill of sewing also helped with one of his most famous pieces titled “men in suits”. This is an interesting piece because it is set on a miniature scale and is so eloquently done this pieces is on display in London . Ledray has also pushed the boundary’s by making some art work out of bone . He has done many things out of bone but most impressively he has made wheat sculptures out of bone. This is fascinating because of the detail done he has done them spot on down to the little whiskers on the plant. But that is not the only this he has made out of bone. He also made a flea ladder, door , and music stand impressive but the wheat is still the most known. But debatably his best piece was called “Workworkworkworkwork.”

This piece has so much going on and there’s no real way to describe it but hectic. Ledray puts it all on the line with this piece because this seems to be a slam on average people because of how hectic and everyday persons life is over all this a very powerful piece of art. All of ledrays success is amazing but it wouldn’t be possible without the “pioneer” (artnet) of this art movement Allan Kaprow. Who is most famous for his pieces named “the yard” which arguably stared installation art. This was simply a bunch of tires thru into a yard and he heated up some tar to get the sense of smell. This was the single most influential piece in installation art history. It was one of the first times a art form like this had been displayed. At the time no one knew how famous this was going to be so it was seen by few. They tried to recreate this piece in 2003 and it was a total failure because of the fact that the time had changed so the message behind this piece did as well.

Another artist who deserves to be recognize in this movement is my personal favorite Cai Guo-Quaing. One of his more famous works is titled “ I want to believe” which shows “ an explosion of colored light turned into art” (art 21). This is a bit harsh on his art this piece has a lot more meaning than just some lights or it wouldn’t be in a several museums. He has created a newer art named “The mushroom cloud” which was called a “harmless piece of art” (Chicago). This product is just a number of colorful smokes are released in the air this sounds simple but it has a much deeper meaning. This is actually used as a symbol to remind is of the effects of a nuclear reactions this piece is breath taking. But perhaps his best piece is named head on in this one what appears to be wolves are running and taking of flying and then crashing into glass head on and retrying. This work is completely open to perception it cant be imagined what he was thinking when he made this but it is simply amazing and deserves all the resignation it gets. He is simply the future of installation art and is rightfully famous.

All this being said one huge problem that is facing the installation art scene is the conservation of the pieces. Since these pieces are not simply on a canvas there is no way to really frame them because these works are done on such a large scale. The best they have been able to do so far is to just simply recreate what has been done by the artist. But even in doing this they are unable to keep the originality. Even if they where this is a contemporary art style that changes with the times so what would be approite now would not still be the case in 10 years because the times have changed so the problems they create these arts about have changed. This art will be around for a little while longer but it will be interesting to see what future generation come up with to follow this up.