Summary - Interventions

Artists often utilise instillation in attempt to move away from the traditional art making practices and to build a relationship between the artwork and its surroundings. As a medium sculpture allows the audience to view the work spatially as well as conceptually. In a way interventions allow the artist to confront the viewer due to the confusing nature of them as “an outgrowth of art that refuses to abide by conventional practices” Buren’s work Within and Beyond the Frame (1973) manipulates the notion of boundaries, going ‘beyond the frame’ he leaves his work open for interpretation to his audience. During the 1960’s the art world saw drastic changes. Artists were in many cases working against the traditional art forms and art making practices, pushing forward controversial and experimental techniques and thought forms. Not only the artists changed but the values of museums and galleries shifted also. No longer was it something admired, but by contrast, it was now critique. The birth of site-specific works made museums futile in what they were traditionally used for. Additionally this allowed for artists to develop work out of reach of the traditional art world and the structures and limitations that went hand in hand with it.

Ultimately the aim of interventions is to reduce or remove the traditional conventions of art from instillations. Artists such as Bruce Nauman, Carl Andre and Richard Serra are all minimal artists that explore this this notion within their work. Serra and Nauman’s works both take on a more aggressive approach to audience participation; in a way they are forcing the viewer to engage with the works. A juxtaposition can be seen with the works of Nauman and Serra when compared to the works of Andre; Andre’s works unlike Nauman and Serra give the audience a choice as to whether they wish to engage, or not, with them.