Term that gained currency in the 1960s to describe a construction or assemblage conceived for a specific interior, often for a temporary period, and distinguished from more conventional sculpture as a discrete object by its physical domination of the entire space. By inviting the viewer literally to enter into the work of art, and by appealing not only to the sense of sight but also, on occasion, to those of hearing and smell, such works demand the spectator's active engagement. As an art form, installations are particularly associated with movements of the 1960s and 1970s such as Pop art, Nouveau R?alisme, Minimalism, conceptual art and process art, but in theory they can be conceived within the terms of virtually any style.
See the Abbreviations for further details.
