Interactive art installations have grown in popularity over the last few years. Unlike traditional art forms where the audience merely views art and beholds its artistic magnificence, interactive art goes beyond simple observation into navigation, assembly, manipulation, or creative contribution to an artwork. This art form empowers individuals to become creators and can foster inclusive, collaborative environments. They have the potential to engage the audience in creative ways, create emotional connections, and provoke reflection and dialogue around social, political, or environmental issues. Let’s identify aspects of interactive art and how it has become significant within the art world and has reached the fascination of audiences on a global scale.
Characteristics of Interactive Installations
There are many different definitions of interactive installations. However, it is safe to say that all forms require participation from the visitor. Interactivity between the participant with a work of art can range from provoking action upon passive observations or more active forms such as physical movement or manipulation of the artwork. Nowadays, interactive installations often include an element of computer or digital media. At a minimum, interactive installation requires dialogue between the participant and the artwork.
Interactive art can also create immersive experiences, although there are some inherent differences between the two. While immersive art creates sensory-rich experiences, interactive art emphasizes that the participant must interact with the art to fully experience all aspects of the installation. Interactive installations are created using a wide range of mediums. It can be a physical sculpture or mobile that can be touched or manipulated, have a digital element, or utilize other senses such as sound, smell, or taste. Installations are by definition ephemeral experiences that are temporary, such as live performances. However, interactive art pieces can also be permanent. The participant’s interaction in some cases can influence the outcome or course of a live performance. While interactive installations more frequently utilize digital technology, the art form in general requires interactivity between the viewer and artwork to be fully experienced or realized.
Evolution Over Time
Interactive art began around the middle of the 20th century when artists desired to create artwork that escaped the world of fine art and was more approachable to the general public. Artists yearned for environments that were less alienating than sterile museums and alternatively installed art exhibits in shop fronts, warehouses, or on the streets. For example, Miki de Saint Phalle designed the sculpture Golem in Jerusalem which includes a slide for children to interact with.
Artists and art theorists in the 1960s realized interactive art could transform spectators into participants. By making artwork interactive, artists welcomed visitors to explore the dimensions of creativity within installations and gain insight into the artists’ creative process. Roy Ascott, the visionary pioneer of media art, invited viewers in his work “Change Paintings” (1959-61) to re-order Plexiglas slabs to create new images to their liking. This example illustrates the unique ways in which interactive art changes the relationship between the audience and the artwork. The outcomes produced by participants are somewhat out of the artist’s control and the possible outcomes produced are endless.
With the rise of computer technology and the internet in the 1990s, interactive art grew into a large phenomenon. Digital media and the incorporation of sensors with digital or audio interfacing brought an era of unique artwork. Interactive installations were also increasingly exhibited in museums and galleries from this time onwards. As the digital technology industry continues to advance, it empowers artists to enhance their expressiveness and bring different modes of interactivity to the audience. This includes new digital techniques such as projection mapping, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence.
Rising popularity with Social Media
Interactive installations offer memorable experiences to participants through their experiential nature. With the rise of social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, interactive and immersive art has become more accessible to the world. Artists feel pressure to make their work “Instagrammable” since social media exposure elevates the visibility and popularity of art.
Most recent influential artists within the realm of interactive installations include Alan Kaprow, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Jeffrey Shaw, Maurice Benayoun, Ernesto Neto, Tomas Saraceno, Carsten Holler, Jamie Zigelbaum, Ann Hamilton, and TeamLab. In addition, some companies have capitalized on this emerging market to commercialize immersive, digital experiences. For example, Lighthouse Immersive uses mainstream content such as Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, Monet & The Impressionists, etc. to create immersive digital experiences. Art festivals such as Frieze, Art Basel, Area15, and Culturespaces, also invite artists to provide digital art experiences that are either interactive or immersive.
For better or worse, interactive art and immersive experiences in general have altered the fundamental nature of museums. While museums traditionally carefully arranged and curated historical objects to tell a story, these institutions now incorporate flashy and entertaining aspects to attract visitors. Art critics portray interactive art as pleasurable, non confrontational environments that are user-friendly and entertaining, rather than propagating fine art. Interactive installations perhaps cater the most to millennials, who value travel and ephemeral encounters over material goods. Fortunately, interactive art may attract a broader group of people to museums than before, allowing unsuspecting visitors to peruse the fine art collections of museums or galleries, only to discover artwork that may interest them. Interactive installations also have the potential to provide unique cultural destinations, enhance tourism, and revitalize communities.
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