RELATIONAL AESTHETICS

Today's art history lecture was focused around relational aesthetics, a term used to describe art that is based on, or inspired by, human relations and their social context. We discussed artists like Felix Torres, Christine Hill and Gillian Wearing; all artists whose work is very public orientated. In 1998, author Nicholas Bourriaud published 'Relational Aeshetics', a book which discussed the role of an artist and how they act as a 'catalyst', Artists are to give their audience 'access to power and the means to change the world', this is against the idea that an artist's work is private and their practice is an independent one. The term 'relational aesthetics' gives the artist a definite role, their art work isn't their own and they have a responsibility within the world. I don't see myself or my work sitting within this term, I feel my work is something quite private and don't plan on doing any public projects that would include anyone other than me contributing to my work, I like knowing my work was created by just me.