Environment art

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Environment art (or Environmental art). An art form in which the artist creates a three-dimensional space in which the spectator can be completely enclosed and involved in a multiplicity of sensory stimulations—visual, auditory, kinetic, tactile, and sometimes olfactory. This type of art was prefigured in the Proun Rooms for Lissitzky and the Merzbau of Kurt Schwitters begun during the 1920s, and in the elaborate decor of some of the Surrealist exhibitions of the 1930s, as well as in certain types of entertainments at funfairs, but as a movement it originated in the late 1950s and flourished chiefly in the 1960s, when it was closely connected with Happenings. Allan Kaprow, who wrote a book called Assemblage, Environments & Happenings (1966), gave the following definitions: ‘The term “environment” refers to an art form that fills an entire room (or outdoor space) surrounding the visitor and consisting of any materials whatsoever, including lights, sounds and colour … The term “happening” refers to an art form related to theatre, in that it is performed in a given time and space. Its structure and content are a logical extension of environments.’ Apart from Kaprow, the other leading figures who have worked in Environment art include Kienholz and Oldenburg, and one of the most celebrated works in the genre was created by Niki de Saint Phalle.

The term has been loosely used, and confusingly it has sometimes been applied to Land art or its analogues—that is, to a category of art that consists in manipulating the natural environment, rather than to an art that creates an environment to enfold and absorb the spectator. Christo's work, for example, is sometimes described as Environmental art.

Environment art (or Environmental art). An art form in which the artist creates a three-dimensional space in which the spectator can be completely enclosed and involved in a multiplicity of sensory stimulations—visual, auditory, kinetic, tactile, and sometimes olfactory. This type of art was prefigured in the Merzbau of Kurt Schwitters and in the elaborate decor of some of the Surrealist exhibitions of the 1930s, as well as in certain types of entertainments at funfairs, but as a movement it originated in the late 1950s and flourished chiefly in the 1960s, when it was closely connected with happenings. The leading figures who have worked in Environment art include Kaprow, Kienholz and, Oldenburg, and one of the most celebrated works in the genre was created by Niki de Saint Phalle. The term has been loosely used, and confusingly it has sometimes been applied to Land art or its analogues—that is, to type of art that manipulates the natural environment, rather than creating an environment to enfold and absorb the spectator.