The idea behind the interactive and the kinetic is the audience. The audience’s involvement changes with the type of art. When viewing “traditional art”, viewing is exactly what the audience does. Interactive art allows the audience to not only participate, but in some cases, become necessary to complete the piece.
The name, interactive art, hints at a direct contact with the work itself. This idea branches out from the typical museum rules and the stigma around being simply an observer of art. Interactive art can come in different forms. The audience’s participation can range anywhere from direct contact, to submitting their own piece to add to the whole. The audience forms a direct relationship with the artwork, whether it be by touching, taking, or listening to an interactive piece.
The evolution of interactive art can be seen in the ways it has developed. As our society moves towards technology, interactivity has continually evolved. The internet is an excellent place for interactivity, and many artists have utilized the internet for pieces that involve submissions and to hold a large amount of data. Artists have also used technology for kinetic works where movement is facilitated by technology or cameras. Cameras have given a new spin to interactivity, sometimes allowing the viewer to be instantly inserted into the piece. This can allow the viewers to watch themselves projected on a screen.
Interactive art breaks the barrier between the artwork and the viewer. With this type of work, sometimes the issue of who is the artist comes into play. Certain works rely heavily on audience involvement, and sometimes the audience does the “actual art.” In this instance, the work becomes entirely about the audience and their involvement, and the artist becomes an instigator.
The important aspect of interactive and kinetic art is the audience. The fact that the artist is not one person in their studio, working alone, but that art involves the public. Artists need the public, and the public need art.
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