Art Action and Participation...

Popper, F. (1975). Art~action and participation. London: Cassell & Collier Macmillan Publishers Limited.

(popper, 1975)

Although this book is by no means contemporary I wished to look at it for fundamental approached to this type of work, and reasons behind why it started. 

This is a book I am currently reading, It describes why artists choose to create immersive environments (happenings) rather than work in a tradition gallery approaches. It is aimed at the impression given to the viewer if they are involved in the installation rather than just view it. I am finding this book very interesting and I feel it underpins a lot of my ideas to do with my current project. Here are a few quotes I found particularly fitting:

‘What does the Nouvelle Tendance aim for?

Our aim is to make you a partner

Our art is based on reciprocity.

It does not aspire to perfection.

It is not Definitive, always leaves the field open between you and the work.

More precisely, our art depends on your active participation.

What we are trying to achieve is for your joy before the work of art to be no longer that of an admirer but of a partner.

Moreover art does not interest us as such. It is, for us, a means of procuring visual sensations, a material which brings out your gifts.

As everyone is gifted, everyone can become a partner.’ (popper, 1975 p.15)

This book explores the various attempts artist have taken ‘acting often as mere intermediaries’ to create environmental statements and, in one way or another, to implicate the spectator in the aesthetic process (popper, 1975 p.13)

‘This creative act, or rather these creative acts, will only come to fruition as a result of the development of a climate which is favourable to awakening public creativity.’

(popper, 1975 p.278)

I wish to encourage people to be creative in my work and use this creativity to reflect on their environments. To do this I need to make sure that the environment is suitable.