The interaction of social reality and cultural values in the art of installation

Chzhan Zhui ORCID: 0009-0001-6028-918X Postgraduate student; Department of Theory and History of Culture, Arts and Design; Trans-Baikal State University 125 Babushkina str., Chita, Zabaikalsky Krai, 672000, Russia z3942708@gmail.com

Introduction

Installation art occupies a significant place in the structure of contemporary art due to its unique form and strong visual impact. Originated in the 1960s, installation art absorbed the essence of Dadaism, surrealism and environmental art, redefining the functions and meaning of artistic works. Installation art is not only a source of visual enjoyment, but also a means of deep understanding of social reality and cultural values. In the context of globalization, installation art, thanks to its diverse forms and high interactivity with the audience, successfully expands the boundaries of traditional art, promoting cultural exchange and understanding, strengthening the social functions of public art.

The purpose of this article is to explore the role and influence of installation art in modern society. The article analyzes in detail the specific manifestations of installation art in socio-political reflections, cultural identity and globalization, public participation and public art, reflections on memory and history, as well as in future development. On this basis, the conceptuality and openness of installation art are discussed as unique advantages in contemporary art. Its development not only expands the boundaries of artistic innovation, but also promotes interdisciplinary research. Looking to the future shows that installation art will rely on interdisciplinary collaboration with fields such as technology and sociology, which will further deepen the expressiveness of works, offering new opportunities and prospects for the development of art and cultural life.

Literature review

Research on installation art has its origins in the development of the ideas of Dadaism, surrealism and environmentalism of the 1960s. Subsequently, the problems of the development of installation art attracted special attention and became one of the important topics that many scientists drew attention to, which led to significant research results ^[1]. These results have deepened the understanding of installation art, expanded the discussion of the social function and cultural value of art. For example, the famous German philosopher Adorno in his work "Theory of Aesthetics" mentions the independence of art and its relationship with society, which is one of the key points that must be considered in the development of installation art ^[2]. The study of participation in the urban environment of Qiu Yuhan's installation art fully demonstrates that the main value of installation art lies in social participation and interaction with the public, and based on this interaction, installation art is gradually becoming one of the platforms for cultural exchange in the urban environment ^[3]. David Cohen in the article "Art in Education and the Philosophy of the Arts" focuses on the importance of installation art in education, as it promotes the development of interdisciplinary thinking and innovative abilities ^[4].

An analysis of the literature as a whole shows that scientists systematically investigate the development of installation art from different points of view and at different levels, and their research results are very extensive. Until now, the attention of scientists has been focused on how installation art reflects social reality, promotes cultural exchange and plays a role in education. However, there is a lack of understanding of the social reality and cultural value of installation art.

This study, based on the results of the analysis of the development of installation art in foreign and domestic studies, is aimed at further studying the social reality and cultural value of installation art. The dissemination of the social and cultural value of installation art is analyzed. It also predicts possible trends in installation art in the future, combined with technology, urban art practice and interdisciplinary collaboration, in order to provide new perspectives and ideas for the future development of installation art.

Research methodology and methods

The research uses the methods of scientific analysis, the method of comparative and generalizing analysis. The literature review is used to systematize and integrate relevant scientific publications, expert opinions and the results of their research, which formed the basis of this work. The method of scientific analysis is used for a deeper study of specific manifestations of works of object art in the field of interaction between social reality and cultural values, including the analysis of socio-political aspects, cultural identity and globalization, participation in public art, as well as reflection on memory and history. The comparative analysis method is used to compare differences and similarities between various works of object art, as well as to identify differences and common features in the expression of social reality and cultural values of various artists. The method of generalizing analysis is used to summarize the general characteristics and key points of view of various works of object art, which allows us to form abstract generalizations about the trends and features of the development of object art in general.

Definition of Installation Art

Theoretically, installation art is an artistic genre that uses works of art to interact with an audience at a certain time and in a certain case ^[5]. Installation art first appeared in the 1960s, and its forms and concepts go back to Dadaism, surrealism and environmental art, redefining the functionality and role of works of art, transforming a specific exhibition space, abandoning formalistic patterns and market works. It connects artistic practice with non-artistic areas of life, opposes the artistic concept according to which art should have separate forms and stable objects, breaks the traditional boundaries of considering art as an aesthetic experience ^[6]. It can also be said that the art of installation is a combination of "people + space + environment". Based on its deep nature, installation art reflects and constructs social relations on an ideological level, rather than social ones on a material one. In fact, it is a form of expression of public thought and manifestation of ideology.

The study of installation art is designed not only to understand the rich connotations as a form of cultural expression, but also to reflect deep reflections and comments on contemporary social phenomena, political issues and personal experiences. The conceptuality, inclusivity and openness brought by the installation art itself are its advantages in cultural communication ^[7]. The development of installation art has expanded the boundaries of artistic innovation, promoted the development of experimental practice, strengthened the interaction between art and the audience, and facilitated interdisciplinary research. As an instrument of social criticism, it reflects the spirit of the times, promotes change, demonstrates cultural diversity and promotes international understanding. The integration of new technologies makes the art of installation more vivid, and its art and technology are closely integrated. In public places, the participation of installation art in landscaping increases the feeling of happiness and cultural literacy of residents, as well as enhances the social function of public art. Research in the field of installation art has a profound impact on artistic, academic, social and cultural development.

Reflection of social reality by installation art

In comparison with traditional categories of art, modern art is freed from the limitations of fixed procedures and materials and can more fully and directly reflect real problems ^[8]. Being an important form of contemporary art, installation often reflects and reacts to various problems of social reality. Due to its unique sense of space and audience participation, the installation can effectively conduct a dialogue with real society and intuitively represent various aspects of social reality. Artists use this art form to transform social issues, environmental crises, cultural conflicts and other issues into a visual language so that viewers can feel the relevance and importance of these real issues while evaluating the work.

The creation of many works of art – installations – is connected with social and political issues and has a pronounced political orientation. Installation art can be the most convenient means of expressing social, political or personal content ^[9]. The artists' subjective awareness, sense of social responsibility and keen understanding of the history of time allow them to express independent views and criticism of social phenomena in their installations, revealing social injustice and conflicts through their unique point of view. For example, Canadian photographer Benjamin Von Wong created the installation "Sea of Plastic" (Strompocalypse) at the Estella Place shopping center in Ho Chi Minh City, using 168,000 plastic tubes collected in Vietnam in 2019 to remind people that they should be wary of the impact of plastic waste on environmental pollution, and to draw attention to people's participation in the solution environmental problems (fig. 1).

Fig. 1. "The sea of plastic". Benjamin Von Wong, 2019. (photo from a public website https://bahna.land/ru/obrazovanie/dikij-art-kak-khudozhniki-obrashchayut-vnimanie-na-problemy-prirody)

Expressing criticism of consumerism and focusing on environmental issues, such works of art – installations – not only demonstrate the physical presence of materials, but also encourage viewers to think about their role in society and the relationship between people and the environment, conveying strong socio-political information.

In the context of globalization, perhaps the most obvious influence of works of modern art is that it has begun to increasingly emphasize its importance as an important communication mechanism that allows responding to different cultural demands and spiritual conditions of various regional cultures and groups in the modern world ^[10].

As a form of contemporary art, installation art has a complex and deep connection between its cultural identity and globalization. It often displays the cultural characteristics and historical memory of a particular region, including local elements. These elements can be recreations of natural landscapes, the use of traditional crafts, references to local architectural styles, or an abstract expression of folk tales and legends. For example, in 2019, Taiwanese artist Fan Chengzong developed the art installation "Nesting Plan", focusing on the nesting method of the green tit, the nesting process and the method of building a nest using humans (wooden ropes, interpretation of skills). The artist built a nest on the Ita Tao pier so that travelers could relax a little.

The installation combines modern architecture with traditional craftsmanship, the use of a wooden lattice structure, which uses traditional willow baskets woven by Latvian craftsmen to create hollow cones ^[11]. Thanks to these elements, a global symbol of Taiwanese culture and environmental protection is displayed. It is precisely by this expression of regional cultural identity and global symbols that the art of installation is able to evoke resonance and identification of the audience with the local culture. At the same time, as a diverse art form, it skillfully combines locality and globality, allowing you to create works of art that have both regional characteristics and international influence. Taking into account and demonstrating the cultural diversity of different countries and regions, as well as integrating global problems and perspectives, while demonstrating cultural diversity, installation art helps not only to improve mutual understanding and respect between different countries and regions, but also contributes to the overall enrichment and development of world culture.

One of the main values of contemporary art is the high degree of participation and interactivity of the audience. Through the form of collaborative art, public awareness of creativity and participation is stimulated ^[3]. This ability of his makes the art of installation not only a source of visual enjoyment, but also a catalyst for social participation and public dialogue.

Art installations bring shared cultural experiences and communication platforms to urban communities. They are often placed in urban public places such as squares, parks, streets, and so on; they have become iconic landmarks and public works of art in the city^[3]. For example, in the public art installation "MicroNature", with which EID Arch Jiang Ping Studio was invited to the Shanghai Xintiandi Design Festival in 2022, the designer experimentally integrated a simulated microscopic natural shape into a linear city built from vector images (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. "MicroNature". EID Arch Jiang Ping Studio，2022

This space art installation highlights the contrast between nature and artificiality, uses ingenuity to convey to people an exciting interactive experience, a strong sense of participation and arouse interest in the surroundings, to revive the urban imagination. This type of installation art invites viewers to enter it and interact with it, creating a specific scene or environment in a physical space. This interaction is not limited to visual viewing, it includes physical participation such as touching, walking, and even the ability to make changes to a piece of work. This method of destroying the traditional binary opposition "viewer ‒ work" allows the viewer to transform from a passive recipient into an active participant, thereby deeply feeling the joy and meaning of artistic creation. The alternative expression and design thinking of this type of installation art can undoubtedly provide a new direction for the development of public art ^[12].

In the words of American art historian Anthony Johnson, "The new environment created by the installation triggers the memory of the audience and produces an experience in the form of memories. The audience further enhances this experience through their own understanding. The result is a “Text” that is written with the help of the viewer. As for the installations themselves, they are just containers in which everything that the “author” and “reader" want is placed. Therefore, the art of installation can be the most convenient means used to express social, political or personal content" ^[11]. Many of the installation's works of art include reflections on history and memory, helping viewers explore them more deeply through a variety of visual, tactile and emotional experiences. Artists skillfully use various media to create historical scenes that are both concrete and abstract, inspiring the audience to think deeply about the subtle relationship between individual and collective memory and encouraging the audience to reflect on the influence of the past on the present. For example, in the film "Persons", created by the French artist Christian Boltanski in 2010, piles of clothes depict those who died in historical events. Clothes become a symbol of their absence. Viewers can touch clothes or walk in them, leave their mark, stimulating the emotional resonance of the audience by the loss of a loved one, friend or compatriot. Such works, representing historical fragments of social movements, encourage people to think about the meaning of life and the meaning of history, about individual and collective memory, about memory and history.

The art of installation and the transfer of cultural values

Installation art is not just a visual experience, it is rather a bridge connecting the inner world of the creator and the viewer, stimulating intercultural dialogue and resonance. Carefully thought-out works, thanks to the ingenious integration of materials, forms and spaces, serve as a source of reflection and an object of criticism. They not only redefine cultural space and construct the identity of cultural narratives, but also invisibly direct the audience to a deep exploration of many aspects of culture and promote the cultural development of dialogue and exchange, thus playing an indispensable role in a broader system of cultural values.

The environment created by the art of installation is used to accommodate the audience, encourages or even forces the audience to move from passive viewing to active feeling within a certain space. This feeling requires the audience to include all the senses in addition to active thinking, "including sight, hearing, touch, smell, and even taste"^[13]. This type of art gives viewers a new experience that goes beyond the traditional mode of viewing works of art. It not only redefines our traditional understanding of space, culture and art, but also promotes deeper interaction between the audience and the works.

Artists often use space as a primary means of creativity, creating an immersive artistic environment through carefully crafted scenes, light, shadow and sound effects, creating places that have both a physical presence and a rich symbolic meaning. By using existing structures inside buildings or erecting temporary structures outdoors, we challenge and expand our understanding of the concept of "cultural space". This redefinition of cultural space allows works of art to no longer be limited to two-dimensional canvases or three-dimensional sculptures, but to become a comprehensive, multifaceted work combining many elements such as culture, space, time and human activity, the medium of perception and experience.

As an important form of contemporary art, installation art often carries rich cultural narratives. Through its unique language and expression, it encourages the audience to deeply explore and understand the complex relationships between art, culture, identity and society. The attractiveness and deep emotional resonance of artistic narratives help viewers create and strengthen their artistic and cultural identity in the Palace of Art.

In his installation works, the artist skillfully combines a variety of cultural elements and symbols, creating an artistic space that is visually impressive and rich in deep meaning. These elements and symbols are not just a formal accumulation, but also a deep reflection and interpretation of specific cultural, historical and social traditions. For example, installation art, thanks to its unique shape and design, has become an iconic landmark and symbolic object of the city, providing a common cultural symbol and emotional connection for urban residents ^[3]. Thus, installation art not only depicts individual identity and a sense of belonging in the face of multiculturalism, but also reveals the impact of broader social structures and historical changes on individual identity.

The cultural narrative not only gives the work a rich cultural connotation and depth, it promotes the audience's understanding and respect for multiculturalism. When viewers immerse themselves in these works of art full of cultural narratives, they unconsciously reflect on their cultural identity, values and relationships with other cultures. This thought process not only helps the audience broaden their horizons and improve their understanding and tolerance of different cultures, but also stimulates their attention and reflection on social issues. It has become an important channel for promoting cultural exchange, mutual understanding and respect, and the continuous development of diversity and inclusivity of human culture.

As an important platform for criticism of social and cultural phenomena, installation art inspires the audience to think deeply about the current situation through deep emotional resonance with the works of installation art. This kind of finished object represents the immediacy of conceptual meaning. The objects here prove a certain idea, directly serving as evidence of the destruction hidden in life and presenting it in a space dedicated to ideological reflection and humanistic torture ^[14].

Artists skillfully use a variety of media, such as images, sounds, materials and space, to create works of art installations. These works often challenge traditional values and ways of thinking through unique points of view and innovative ways of expression, encouraging the audience to break out of the traditional framework of thinking and redefine the world around them. They not only reveal the complexity and versatility of social problems and express deep concern about social injustice, but also encourage the audience to think deeply about the roots and solutions to these problems, about their role in society, as well as ways to promote social progress through their own actions.

Artistic creativity is no longer limited to a certain form. Borders and barriers between nations and cultures are gradually weakening. International cooperation and interaction between different spheres contribute to the overall development of society ^[15]. The intercultural characteristics of installation art make it an effective tool for cultural exchange. By combining the forms and themes of different cultures, an artistic space is created that is both concrete and abstract, capable of accommodating and demonstrating the uniqueness and diversity of different cultures. This intercultural expression breaks down the limitations of traditional art forms and provides a new, multifaceted platform for cultural exchange. Based on this platform, the audience can overcome language and cultural barriers, directly feel and experience the charm and value of different cultures, expand cultural exchange and cooperation between different countries and regions, and contribute to strengthening global social ties.

Installation art and modern society

Installation art plays an important role in modern society. As Claire Bishop noted in the book "The Art of Installation: critical history", installation art not only challenges the aesthetic habits of the audience through its interactivity and participation, but also inspires people to think deeply about social issues and phenomena ^[16]. Thus, changing the audience's experience and the boundaries of art, some installation works use non-traditional materials ‒ ready-made objects and waste in combination with modern technologies to create works with strong visual impact and ideological depth. Some works skillfully integrate traditional art forms with new media, providing viewers with a new experience beyond the traditional ways of viewing art, not only challenging the aesthetic habits of the audience, but also inspiring people to think deeply about social phenomena, cultural values and individual existence. At the same time, the art of installation, with its interactivity and participation, enriches the cultural life of people, brings new vitality to public spaces. David E. Cohen in the article "Art Education and the Philosophy of Art" emphasized how installation art can contribute to the development of interdisciplinary thinking and innovative abilities, which once again proves the importance of installation art in the field of education ^[4]. These views further emphasize the status of installation art in modern society and its influence in various fields.

Perspectives of installation art

Thanks to the rapid development of science and technology, as well as an ever-changing social and cultural environment, installation art has not only launched a wave of technological innovations, but is also increasingly deepening its attributes of interdisciplinary collaboration, social participation and public art. Compared to traditional works of art, art installations pay more attention to interaction and integration with the environment ^[3]. The integration of digital technologies has opened up new creative possibilities in installation art, such as the application of virtual reality, augmented reality and other technologies, allowing works of art to transcend physical boundaries and create immersive experiences. At the same time, the trends of globalization and cultural diversity have prompted artists to pay more attention to intercultural exchange and social issues, as well as explore global issues such as environmental development, sustainability and environmental protection in their works. However, with the progress of social development, the constant improvement of the human happiness index and the increase in general awareness, the art of installation gradually spread to the public and public art sphere. In the future, the main trend in the development of art will be the cooperation of communities. Joint creativity will help to respond directly to various social problems, express people's psychological thoughts, expand the audience of art, penetrate into all corners of life and strengthen the influence of art. Finally, based on the current development of installation art, it can be seen that its future will inevitably depend on the interdisciplinary cooperation of art and science, technology, sociology and other fields. Through this collaboration, artists can assimilate and study knowledge and techniques from different disciplines to create new forms of installation art, thereby increasing their depth and breadth. Interdisciplinary collaboration also provides new directions for the development of other disciplines and is of great importance for their future development.

The multidirectional development of installation art requires artists to have higher innovative abilities and insight in order to cope with a rapidly changing social environment and preserve the uniqueness and depth of their work. In an era when opportunities and challenges coexist, installation art is constantly evolving and continues to bring unique artistic value and social significance to modern society.

Conclusion

Today, installation art represents a new direction of artistic creativity based on innovation and thinking. It combines various types of art to create an artistic space of an innovative visual nature with deep ideological overtones. Artists skillfully use various materials and media to create exciting works that touch people's hearts and evoke deep reflections on reality, history, culture and self-identification. Installation art breaks down the method of static display of traditional works of art and encourages the audience to actively participate in it, creating deep communication and resonance. Thanks to the constant development of technology, artists have begun to integrate new media technologies into their work in order to create unique forms of artistic expression. Installation art will certainly continue to play its unique role, becoming an important bridge connecting art and society, reality and values.