Understanding the Art Museum Chapter 3 Question

Assignment from end of Chapter 3

Research installations by artists such as Kiki Smith, Bill Viola, or Jenny Holzer.
How does the artwork interact with the physical space it occupies? Argue for or against the ideas and principles behind installation art.


Kiki Smith:
 "Untitled" (Butterflies)
 
Sculpture

I feel like this piece is less installation work and more sculptural. I think that it could be placed in the a different place and get the same feeling or emotion from the piece. It really seems like this piece is not really an installation work.




Bill Viola:
 "The Veiling"
 
Fabric "veils" with projections

This installation definitely works with the location by the veils being designed to be viewed in this space and meant to be in this dark room so that you can view the projections on the veils. The piece only works in a dark room because it needs the lack of light to showcase this work. Another part of this work is that it makes the room feel almost claustrophobic, which I believe adds to the work.


Jenny Holzer:
"Protect Me From What I Want"


Installed in New York City- Times Square

This work interacts with the location by the text being very much about materialism. By it being in Times Square it adds to the subject about materialism and consumerism. This piece needs to be in this location in order for it to keep the power that is has.





Installation work has a chance to be really great. However, some work that is considered to be installation work could be installed any where. I feel like installation work should be made specifically for a certain location.