By Shailija

• Fashion Design Faculty

Design is a vast field. You see design in everything and everywhere around you, from advertisements in newspapers to a pencil or a pen. It Is not just about the clothes you wear or the houses you live in but also about the phone that you use and the applications that you use.

One such branch of design is – Installation. Installation is a three-dimensional artwork that can be site-specific or space-specific. It is a strong way to communicate one’s thoughts and ideas to the world. Any material or media can be used for making installations such as paintings, sculptures and many more. It is an expression of art, where the artist is concerned about the representation of the message that they want to pass to the audience more than the material being used.

WHO STARTED IT?

The history of installation art can be traced back to 1957. This art form emerged from the atmosphere created by artists such as Allan Kaprow from 1957 onwards. Traces of this art could also be seen in artists such as Marcel Duchamp’s works. There are various famous international installation artists. Many artists have tried their luck in this field of art. Here are some of the famous artists and their works of this genre:

Allan Kaprow – Baby (1957), Yard (1961)

Yayoi Kusama – Infinity net (1979), Infinity mirror room (1956)

Ai Weiwei – Ton of Tea (2008), Study of perspective Tiananmen Square (1995)

TYPES OF INSTALLATION ART?

Installation art stretches its existence from very simple to very complex design forms. The prospects are boundless and depend completely on the artist’s concept. Almost all the material or media present around can be used to create your idea.  Performance art, visuals, film & animation, painting, sculpture, audio clip or music are some of the forms of this art. An installation can also be interactive where the audience can participate and can come up with their interpretation of the idea.

A FEW OF THE ARTISTS PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF INNOVATION THROUGH INSTALLATION ARTS ARE:

• Light Installation: Bastien Carr
• Psychedelic Light Installation : James Turrel
• Sound Installation : Carsten Niolai, Susan Phillipsz
• Environmental Awareness : Olafur Eliasson