The context of art making 2 [6]

Art and human relationships



Relational aesthetics is a theory of aesthetics in which artworks are judged based upon the inter-human relations which they represent, produce, or prompt.
"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."
Relational Art..."main feature is to consider interhuman exchange aesthetic object in and of itself." -Bourriaud.
"Relational Aesthetics is a way of considering the productive existence of the viewer of art, the space of participation that art can offer." -Bourriaud.

Who judged the artist? The audience? It also reaffirms the idea that art have a social responsibility - as artists are working with the environment that they are in/or not? Inviting the audience into their space - creating the 'space' = art now is about the "interaction" between the social environment that the artist create and the audience encounter with it. The invisible wall between the artist and the audience in the process of art making 'dissolves'. So, is this to say that the final 'product' of art making is the audience encounter with the environment that the artist creates.

If this is the case, what happens when there is a lack of audience? Would the work be deemed unsuccessful? Failing is part of the process of art making. In the case of the audience - must they be informed (art ) audience or would it be better is they are the public who may not have any experience. But then, are we dividing the line between public audience and informed audience?Relational aesthetics talks about the context of art making at this point of time. It is more about the inter-human relationships between the artist and the audiences. Artist gives meaning to gestures/symbols based on their knowledge and experience.

Kai’s intention is based on his understanding and negotiation of life and relationship. This could be seen in FOI 4, the poetic symbolism of the fish and life - how often we may be deemed/perceived as pushing ourselves away from the conformity of life, when in actual fact, we are clearly misunderstood?

For the performance, it was held indoors and at a theatre space, 72-13. Are his audience known/informed audience? What kind of environment does he put his audience in? I feel that for that performance, most of his audiences are people who have knowledge in art. It did not reach out to those outside the space in which he was working. However, his work, Anthology Blues, which was held at Post-Museum, Rowell Rd, attracted foreign workers who were having their off days. I think that the venue in which the artist is working in affects the kind of audience that came. At the same time, one would ask if the audience intervention are actually permitted at performance art shows and how would the artist react to this intervention.