Installation art is a term mostly used to describe artworks that are made “in situ”. This means that the work is created or installed within the specific space where it is meant to be viewed. For this reason, Installation art is sometimes also called “environments” and it is often large in scale and created with a variety of different media and mediums.
Installation art varies widely, but generally, its focus is placed on the viewer’s experience of the work. Installation artworks often aim to transform the viewer’s perception of space.
Installation art is most popular among Postmodern artists, but it is not necessarily only Postmodern artists that create installation artworks, nor do all Postmodern artists focus on Installation art.
Installation art can either be temporary or permanent. This often depends on the space where the installation piece is made, for whom the installation is created, and which materials were used.
With its goal of immersion, installation in art can take on many different forms and use a myriad of different materials. There is no limitation on which materials can be used in Installation art.
Installation art started to emerge during the early 1960s. Developing alongside Conceptual Art, it can be traced back to artist Marcel Duchamp (1887 – 1968).