Nicholas Bourriaud's Relational Aesthetics

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Nicholas Bourriaud’s 1998 book Relational Aesthetics (Esthétique Relationnelle) has unquestionably been a successful catalyst of discussion. Relational Aesthetics has led the way in attempting to scrutinise and classify artworks by a generation of European artists during the nineteen-nineties. Over time, the book has become regarded by many as an essential text. Bourriaud described an innovative ‘relational’ concept of art, with the viewer’s interaction developing into an element of the piece of art. Relational art is frequently not regarded as art because it questions the perception and experience of art. Redolent of the period from which it developed, Relational Aesthetics reflects the beginning of internet culture instantaneous interaction. …show more content…

Bourriaud states relational art incorporates "a set of artistic practices which take as their theoretical and practical point of departure the whole of human relations and their social context, rather than an independent and private space." (Bourriaud, p 113, 1998) He perceives artists to be driving forces rather than creators, and deems art to be data interchanged between the artist and the spectators. The work of art produces a societal milieu in which the public are able to converge and take part in a communal endeavor. Bourriaud states "the role of artworks is no longer to form imaginary and utopian realities, but to actually be ways of living and models of action within the existing real, whatever scale chosen by the artist." (Bourriaud, p 13, …show more content…

Some artists whose work was presented are Liam Gillick, Philippe Parreno and Felix Gonzalez-Torres. Artist and critic Chris Cobb considers Bourriaud's view of art in the 1990s as authentication of the expression of relational art, whilst illustrating "different forms of social interaction as art that deal fundamentally with issues regarding public and private space." (http://www.stretcher.org/features/touch_-_relational_art_from_the_1990s_to_now/) Relational aesthetics artworks are inclined to disconnect with the conventional physical and societal area of a museum or art gallery, and the isolation of the artist workshop. Instead, Relational aesthetics embraces as its theme life and the vigorous community milieu, in preference to attempting an imitative portrayal of everyday objects portrayed out of context.
Thai artist Rikrit Tiravanija is widely known for his 1992 untitled solo show in New York of Thai food at 303 Gallery. Throughout the exhibition, the artist prepared Thai food for forty people each night in a kitchen that was specifically constructed within the gallery itself [fig 1] - 2). Tiravanija explained “it is not what you see that is important but what takes place between people”. The shared event of food preparation and consuming the meal develops into the art on display, with the artist acting as the master of

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