Installation Art

Initially, the term "installation" was used by magazines and newspapers to refer to the arrangement of an exhibit. Installation of art did not imply that the space in which a work was displayed could be included in the work itself. More recently, the space of an exhibit has become art in its own right. Installation art refers to three-dimensional art created to transform perception of space, and installation artists are inescapably concerned with the experience of the viewers. Because installation art is not limited to a canvas, installation artists have a profoundly greater freedom to express their ideas. As popularity of installation art has increased, more museums have designated specific areas to installation art. In class, we have viewed the installation pieces within Tate Modern Museum in London, England. Within Tate's Turbine Hall, artists are invited to display their work within the enormous space. Artists covered in class include Ai Weiwei, Louise Bourgeois, Dominique Gonzalez, Rachel Whiteread, Olafur Eliasson, Anish Kapoor, and Doris Salcedo. These artists come from a variety of backgrounds and have a range of artistic styles. Each artist is similar in their use of the hall's 500 ft long by 115 ft high space to their advantage, creating vast works of art that overwhelm the viewer in their scope. Olafur Eliasson's "The Weather Project" immediately caught my eye for its unbelievable portrayal of the sun. Weather is a ubiquitous topic of conversation, often used to break the ice. Using mirrors and mono-frequency lamps, Eliassion transforms such a mundane topic into an ethereal experience, as an artificial sun shines throughout Turbine Hall, coated in a cloud of mist. This work would not have such an impact had it been confined to a smaller area, because smaller exhibits could not replicate the immensity of nature. 



Louise Bourgeois's UniLever Series is another exhibit that would not be as monumental if confined to a smaller space. The work contains three 30 ft. high steel towers, each with a platform. The platforms contain chairs surrounded by mirrors. The exhibit allows viewers to witness the enormity of the hall, and of the work, from various heights and angles. Viewers are encouraged to climb the towers, sit in the chairs, and contemplate their lives while surrounded by spectacular views. Installation allows the sculpture to become a powerful art piece that provokes an array of emotions within its viewers. The works of these and many other artists reflect the importance of installation art as an upcoming field within art.

-Tina