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What is installation art? You must have seen some mighty art pieces dangling overhead to intrigue the viewers, or some artworks scattered on a plane to evoke some kind of emotion.
Installation art is more than just placing objects in a space—this art is truly an immersive experience for the artists and the viewers, interacting with the whole space. Not only is it a huge mixed-media artwork, but it can also be an experience altogether. It is a brand-new way we engage in artistic communications.
The Changing Face of Installation Art
Traditional painting or sculpture can engage our senses in a limited way and for a limited span of time, whereas an art installation is designed to envelop the viewer entirely. It makes the viewers an integral part of the artistic narrative. In this blog, we will take a fascinating tour of Yayoi Kusama's jaw-dropping infinity rooms to Olafur Eliasson's captivating light installations.
In this way, installation artists across the world try to define how we connect to spaces.
It is an amazing world of art - vast and varied, covering everything from city art installations in Nevada and Philadelphia to mirror art installations that showcase distorted reality. No matter if it’s an art installation in Los Angeles or a famous installation art piece in Chicago, the artworks leave an indelible mark on the viewers forever!
Yayoi Kusama Installation Art: The Theory of Infinity and Existence
While we discuss installation art, the name of Yayoi Kusama comes up invariably. Kusama, the Japanese artist has captivated viewers with her installation art, polka dots, infinity mirrors, and deeply personal, immersive installations. Works of Kusama focuses on themes of mental illness, quest for oneself, and working on the …. of human beings with the infinite universe.
"I wanted to examine the single dot that was my life and yet was also a dot among millions,"
- Kusama
‘Infinity Mirror Rooms’ is one of Kusama’s most famous installation art pieces and she has used mirrors, LED lights, and polka dots masterfully to create an illusion of endless space. She wanted to express her existence as a single dot amongst million other dots. It is the dots obsession philosophy and impressive installations by Yayoi Kusama that have been displayed in cities worldwide, from public art installations in Las Vegas to hanging art installations in Los Angeles.
Kusama has expressed that the theme of infinity reflects her worldview – how she is obsessed with the thought of an infinitely vast universe, the theme of eternity, love for humanity and longing for eternal peace.
"I integrate my philosophy about the eternity of interrelationships into my artworks. You can share the information, but the experience is your own. I wish you will come to experience my artwork at The Broad."
- Yayoi Kusama
The Queen of Exploration: Yayoi Kusama and Exploding Color Installations
‘Obliteration Room’ is another remarkable installation art piece by Kusama where she focuses on self-exploration while blending with the surrounding space. Here the visitors are given colored stickers to place anywhere, so that the white-colored room bursts into a riot of colors, like an explosion of color bombs. This is kind of an interactive approach that bridges the gap between artist and the visitors, making them part of the creative process.
Olafur Eliasson: Master of Light and Perception
The superbly talented artist Olafur Eliasson works with simple elements like mirror, light, water, etc. to create awe-inspiring visual effects. His approach to art installation is more scientific and sensory where light, water, and air transform spaces aesthetically. His works seamlessly blend art and environment, drawing the attention of the viewers entirely to the creations, thus changing their perception of the natural world.
"I want people to feel that they are part of something larger than themselves,"
- Eliasson
‘The Weather Project’ is one of his master creations, considered as one of the best 21st century art installation projects displayed at Tate Modern in London.
The striking part of this installation is a giant, glowing sun made of thousands of mono-frequency lamps, filling the museum’s vast Turbine Hall with a mellow and mystic golden light. Water was sprayed throughout the space to give a feel of mist and cloud. This is a contemporary masterpiece, no wonder!
Eliasson and the Illuminating Rainbow Panorama
Some of the stunning light installation art pieces by this Danish artist Eliasson features Your Rainbow Panorama, Your Uncertain Shadow, Beauty, Frost Activity, Room for One Color, etc.
The rainbow panorama is nothing but a circular glass walkway on top of a museum in Denmark, where the visitors are immersed in a spectrum of color. The bands of colors envelop the walkers inside, lighting up the Denmark city like never before! The installation also makes a visitor aware of the infinite space where the alternate reality of light and space takes the center stage much like Infinity Room by Yayoi Kusama.
The Rise of Public and City Art Installations
Nowadays the appeal of installation art is not only limited to museum walls and gallery spaces. They extend far beyond the confined wall spaces. Cities across the globe have embraced art installation to redefine urban spaces, just as graffiti and public art have engaged viewers and pedestrians so far. Captivating public art installations also create a legitimate space for public and art to interact.
Philadelphia Portal Art Installation
It is an amazing video installation that connects other cities with Philadelphia through this astonishing Philadelphia Portal Art Installation. The passerby and visitors can interact with strangers in real-time. This city art installation originally shifted from New York to the Love Park, Philadelphia shows the importance of connection, blurring the lines between digital and physical spaces.
Art Installation Las Vegas
The world's most striking and permanent exhibition can be the installation in Las Vegas, Meow Wolf Omega Mart that stands out as an interactive art space. Public visiting the mart goes through an immersive experience, which alters reality and makes everything look like a mystery story unfolding with a magic touch. This public art installation takes visitors through a surreal supermarket feeling filled with hidden doors, secret passageways, and awe-stirring visuals.
City Art Installation Nevada
The city of Nevada also houses a fantastic city art installation called Seven Magic Mountains featuring seven towering, vibrant rock formations in the desert, created by a Swiss artist. Standing more than thirteen feet high these artificial bright-colored mountains show a striking contrast to the natural landscape and that is done so artistically.
Art Installation Chicago
Cloud Gate, public art installation in Chicago by Anish Kapoor has also made a permanent mark in the world of famous installation art in Chicago. It is a mirror art installation by the artist reflecting the city skyline and the trapped images of the visitors which look as if warped and amusing, like people from other-worldly spaces.
World of Illusions: Art Installation Los Angeles
Have a blast at the world of illusions, the mind-bending installation in the city of Hollywood. The 3D illusions can make eyes pop out and turn your head, a breathtaking journey to the space of altered reality and fantasies. This installation is inspired by contemporary art forms including pop art, cartoons, etc.
The Future of Installations and Immersive Art
With rapidly advancing technologies, public art installation and installations will evolve into more interactive and tech-rich experiences. There are endless possibilities of entering into a whole new world of altered reality and infinite space with AR city art installations and holographic mirror art installations and much more.
Physical or digital, any kind of installation creates a kind of instant intimacy with the artwork and the viewer. As though the work is not only considered a piece of excellence, but something living and breathing inside the space. That is how the concept of installations is being deconstructed time and again, to adapt to the changing environments.
Think of the hanging art installation in Los Angeles, or the revolutionary portal art installation in Philadelphia connecting cities like Dublin, Portland, etc. or a deeply philosophical piece by Yayoi Kusama – these immersive arts will continue to captivate and change the perception of ‘how we define space’ worldwide.
In the words of the Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson,
"Art is not the object but what the object does to the world."
And in the world of installation art, experience is everything!
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