At times, artists can be considered a rebellious bunch. Experimental media emerged out of a desire to challenge the establishment, or the traditional understanding of art. In this lesson, you will learn about:
What comes to your mind when you think about art? Maybe paintings, sculptures, or nudes? Or, maybe the Mona Lisa? Until the 20th century, high art was largely confined to mediums that had been in use since ancient Greece. One exception to this are oil paintings on canvas, which came along later.
Experimental art began to change this, however, as art became more time-based. Besides the subject matter, which may or may not be considered traditional art, the medium is the primary difference between traditional media and experimental media.
Land art, body art, performance art, and installation art are examples of experimental media, which is the use of any nontraditional medium. Unlike earlier, traditional works of art that were intended to last, experimental media often incorporates an element of impermanence. By using media that does not endure, artists shine light on the fact that no work of art lasts forever.
big idea
Experimental media challenges traditional understandings of art.
term to know
Time-Based
A work of art that intentionally lasts for a finite period of time, such as a performance
2. Land and Body Art
The landscape becomes the medium when an artist chooses to create land art. An artist creating body art uses a person’s body, often the artist’s, as the medium for the piece. Body art has existed in one way or another since before the earliest recordings of human history.
did you know
Tattoos, a form of body art, have been found on the mummified remains of humans dating from the Neolithic Era, some 6,000 plus years ago.
IN CONTEXT
Take a look at these examples of experimental art.
This is the Spiral Jetty, which is situated within the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Robert Smithson created this piece of land art in 1970.
Spiral Jetty
Next is an example of the elaborate makeup used on the Kathakali dancers of Southwestern India.
Kathakali dancers
terms to know
Land Art
Works of art that use the landscape as medium or incorporate the landscape on a huge scale
Body Art
Works of art that use the body, often the artist’s own body, as a medium; body art often, but not always, intersects with performance art.
3. Performance and Installation Art
In performance art the performance is the medium, but the action is the subject matter. The action is conveyed through the performance. When an artist creates installation art, the surrounding space becomes a part of the medium. An important aspect of installation art is that it is often designed for a specific type of room or space. Installation art differs from land art in that it is indoors, not outdoors.
IN CONTEXT
Take a look at the following examples of experimental art.
First, a picture of Marina Abramovic performing at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The title of this performance is The Artist Is Present, and the performance consisted of her sitting for hours on end staring at observers.
The Artist is Present by Marina Abramovic
Below is an example of installation art where the surrounding space becomes a part of the medium.
Embankment by Rachel Whiteread
terms to know
Performance
A type of art that emphasizes action
Installation
A type of art that involves the creation of large, room-sized environments that one can enter
4. Arte Povera
Arte Povera, a modern art movement that explores the relationship between art and life, sometimes requires viewer participation and may use the surrounding space as medium. This movement emerged in the latter part of the 20th century in Italy. In a sense, artists creating Arte Povera take everyday materials and create something extraordinary and interesting out of them.
did you know
Arte Povera translates to “poor art,” which is a bit misleading because the materials used can actually be quite elaborate and expensive.
IN CONTEXT
The Other Figure, a slightly humorous example of Arte Povera, shows two busts looking down upon another figure, which happens to be shattered and in pieces on the ground.
The Other Figure by Giulio Paolini
term to know
Arte Povera
A modern art movement that explores the relationship between art and life using natural materials and human artifacts, and experienced through the body
summary
Traditional art is generally created to last forever, but in contrast, experimental art is time-based. This is one of the ways in which experimental art began to challenge the understanding of traditional art.
In this lesson, you learned about five types of experimental art: land art, body art, performance art, installation art, and Arte Povera. Land and body art are fairly straightforward. Land art uses the surrounding land as a medium, while body art uses a person’s body as the medium for creating artwork.
Performance is the medium, but the action is the subject matter in performance art. The surrounding space becomes a part of the medium in installation art. In the modern art movement Arte Povera, everyday materials are used to create something extraordinary and interesting.
Source: THIS TUTORIAL WAS AUTHORED BY IAN MCCONNELL FOR SOPHIA LEARNING. Please see our Terms of Use.
L' Altra Figura | Author: Giulio Paolini | License: 349.1987.a-c
Terms to Know
Arte Povera
A modern art movement that explores the relationship between art and life, using natural materials and human artifacts, and experienced through the body.
Body Art
Works of art that use the artist’s body as a medium; body art often, but not always, intersects with performance art.
Installation
A type of art that involves the creation of large, room-sized environments that one can enter.
Land Art
Works of art that use the landscape as medium or incorporate the landscape on a huge scale.
Performance
A type of art that emphasizes action.
Time-Based
A work of art that intentionally lasts for a finite period of time, such as a performance.
