Bonus: What Is Installation Art? A Brief History and Personal Perspective

In this bonus episode of The Installation Art Podcast, host Anastasia Parmson delves into the question: “What is installation art?” through a personal lens.

We explore the historical roots and evolution of the medium, significant artists and works, and discuss foundational concepts, such as site-specificity, scale and accumulation, and how those differentiate installation from other contemporary art mediums.

We take a look at notable artists and their historic contributions, as well as some of the guests previously featured on the show. This episode offers examples and personal observations inviting listeners to share their own perspectives and experiences.

00:00 Introduction and Listener Message

01:53 Defining Installation Art: A Personal Interpretation

02:50 Early Pioneers: Duchamp and Schwitters

05:06 Mid-20th Century Innovations

07:10 Assemblage and Accumulation

08:45 Site Specificity and Scale

17:15 Video and Multimedia Installations

18:46 Public Art and Murals

21:32 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

Mentioned in this episode:

Marcel Duchamp: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/duchamp-marcel/

Bicycle wheel,1913

Porte 11 Rue Larrey,1927

1200 Coal Sacks,1938

Air de Paris,1919

Kurt Schwitters: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/schwitters-kurt/

Merzbau, 1923-1937: https://www.tate.org.uk/research/tate-papers/08/kurt-schwitters-reconstructions-of-the-merzbau

Joseph Beuys: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/beuys-joseph/

Yves Klein: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/klein-yves/

Le Vide, 1958: https://www.littleartnecdotes.com/le-vide-1958/

Iris Clert Gallery: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_Clert_Gallery

Arman: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/arman/

Poubelles: https://www.armanstudio.com/artworks/poubelles

Le Plein, 1960

Daniel Spoerri: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/spoerri-daniel/

Barry Le Va: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Le_Va

Christo & Jeanne Claude: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/christo-and-jean-claude/

Robert Smithson: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/smithson-robert/

Installation Art: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6467162-installation-art?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=jnQ7mtEYpb&rank=4

Emma Fielden: https://www.emmafielden.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/emmafielden/

Do Ho Suh: https://www.instagram.com/dohosuhstudio/

Nika Neelova: https://www.nikaneelova.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/nikaneelova/?hl=en

Korakrit Arunanondchai: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korakrit_Arunanondchai | https://www.instagram.com/kritbangkok/?hl=en

Pipilotti Rist: https://pipilottirist.net/ | https://www.instagram.com/pipilotti_rist_studio/

Nicolas Rupcich: https://nicolasrupcich.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/rupcich/

Barbara Kruger: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Kruger

Antony Gormley: https://www.antonygormley.com/

Ai Weiwei: https://www.aiweiwei.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/aiww/

Felix Gonzales Torres: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/gonzalez-torres-felix/

 Wolfgang Laib: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Laib

Denes Farkas: https://denesfarkas.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/denes_k_farkas/

Anne Patterson: https://www.annepatterson.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/annepattersonstudio/?hl=en

Jason Peters: https://www.jasonpeters.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/jasonpetersart/

Olga Lah: https://www.olgalah.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/olgalah_studio/

The Installation Art Podcast is a show about people who love and work with the contemporary art medium of installation. The host Anastasia Parmson, an artist herself, interviews internationally renowned artists and arts workers about the intricacies and behind-the-scenes stories of creating and showing work that is site-specific, ephemeral, large scale or immersive.

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Your host Anastasia Parmson: www.anastasiaparmson.art | https://www.instagram.com/anastasiaparmson.art/

🗣️ Join the conversation in our Linkedin group The Installation Art Society, a space for conversations about installation art and a platform for practitioners to share insights, discuss technical aspects, and exchange behind-the-scenes stories: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14532340/