art.308:sculpture studio

hannah piper burns

project 3- site and installation
analysis

What separates installation as a specific genre of sculpture seems to be, above all else, its multiplicity- that is, that it contains several elements, the combination of which creates the actual work. In this way and also in the environmental sense, installation art is more about space than object, more about landscape than feature. Often it concerns how elements of the piece relate to each other, whether they seem to fit into a general scheme (Osorio’s basketballs and trading cards) or make metaphorical connections to one another (Bourgeois’ glass spheres and chairs, or Hamilton’s Braille and powder).
Installations can also be characterized by their specific relationship to the site in which they are realized. Whether about creating an environment within the confines of a gallery or augmenting and re-visioning an existing location in order to highlight certain features or alter the perception of the space, there is a distinct relationship that exists between the work and its location. Installations are about the creation of an environment, whether that environment is completely constructed or synthesized with the natural world, whether it surrounds us or is self-contained.

Another important factor of installation/site specific work is its relationship to the earth's natural movements. James Turrells' Roden crater is an excellent example of this, with its chambers following the movements of the heavens. In the tradition of Stonehenge, site artists attempt to create structures and works that draw the public's attention to natural phenomena.

In general, installation and site reflect a need or desire to control, to project a vision and create the world or a world in their image, if only a small corner of that world. Whether it is a desire to alter an existing space in order to enhance or create certain features, or the desire to environmentally engulf a viewer in a space, these works are about a larger aesthetic than the object alone, about a synthesized aesthetic and a clear message for the way the world is or should be.