1. Video Art part 1

2. Video Art All art is about communication, but the
video arts in particular are about mass
communication.
Video depends upon the current state
of technological developments more
than almost any other medium.

3. Which 2 crucial inventions led to the birth of video?

4. Video Art 2 crucial inventions that led to the birth of video:
- a video camera
- a TV set

5. How Does It Work? Video cameras are used primarily in 2 modes:
1) a live broadcast, where the camera feeds real
time images directly to a screen.
2) the images are recorded to a storage device
for archiving or further processing such as:
videotape
CD-Rom
mini DV tape

6. Video Art. Where Did It All Start?
The 1st official TV broadcast in the U.S. – (in conjunction with the NYC World’s Fair)
TV becomes part of the American life – 1950s
By 1953 – 2/3rds of American households have TVs
By 1960 – up to 90%
TVs were initially made for the public, video cameras only for professionals (Ex: major network studios)

7. Video Art. Where Did It All Start?
The 1st portable video camera with a magnetic tape recorder is released and marketed to the general public – 1960
Individual artists start to experiment with the new medium. Video art is born – mid 1960s

8. Robert Rauschenberg, NYC
The Art World in the 1950s-60s
Artists are experimenting with all kinds of mediums,
Trying to brake away from the traditional notions of art.
Robert Rauschenberg, NYC

9. The Art World in the 1950s-60s
There no longer any particular materials that enjoy
the privilege of being immediately recognizable as art
media.
Andy Goldsworthy – earth art installation James Turrell, “Gard Red” (1968) – mixed media installation

10. Marcel Duchamp: Fountain (1917), Bicycle Wheel (1951)
The Art World in the 1950s-60s
Anything can become art, even ready-made objects. The
meaning of an artwork does not necessarily lie within it,
but often times arises out of the context in which it exists.
Marcel Duchamp: Fountain (1917), Bicycle Wheel (1951)

11. The Art World in the 1950s-60s
Dada & Fluxus – emphasis on formal instructions & process +
the willingness to embrace chance. In life, things just happen.
Ex: Marcel Duchamp, “Rotary Glass Plates”, Ex: Nam June Paik, “Random Access”, 1963

12. The Art World in the 1950s-60s
Alan Kaprow coins the term “lifelike art”. New art forms
are created such as performance art, happenings, etc.
The distinction between art and the everyday is no
longer relevant.

13. Audience Becomes Part of the Work
“To look at art is not to consume it passively, but to
become part of a world in which both that art and the
spectator belong. Looking is not passive, it does
not leave things unchanged.” – Michael Rush
Yoko Ono, Wish Tree
Yoko Ono, Cut Piece

14. Andy Warhol James Rosenquist
The Art World in the 1950s-60s
Pop artists often times drew their inspiration from the
banality of urban America. Their work acted as a critique
of the commercialization of mass media, TV, advertising,
consumption, etc.
Andy Warhol James Rosenquist

15. Bruce Nauman, “Composite Photo of 2 Messes on the Studio Floor”, 1967
The Art World in the 1950s-60s
A “dematerialization” of art occurs as artists highlight the
importance of the creative process over the final product.
Ex: art made of the leftovers of some prior activity.
Bruce Nauman, “Composite Photo of 2 Messes on the Studio Floor”, 1967

16. Ex: Joseph Kosuth, “One of The Three Chairs”, 1965
Conceptual Art: 1950s-70s
In Conceptual Art, “the idea becomes the machine
that drives the work.” (Sol LeWitt)
Ex: Joseph Kosuth, “One of The Three Chairs”, 1965

17. Conceptual Art: 1950s-70s As Video Art develops:
It starts having a dialog with Mass Media: TV, Radio, etc.
It becomes part of installation and performance art (time & space are the important new elements explored by artists)

18. Video Art vs Film & Television
“By the 1960s the total commercialization of corporate
television had been accomplished, & to media watchdogs
and many artists, television was becoming the enemy.
Americans were watching up to 7 hours of TV daily and
a new consumer society was forming...”
- Michael Rush, New Media in Art

19. Video, Film, TV – Main Differences
Video work is not a commercial product for sale or mass consumption.
“Artful techniques may enliven commercial TV, ads, etc., but these techniques are not in themselves what we would call art. Art lies in the intentionality of the artist…to create a moment of personal expression.” – Michael Rush
Videos are made by professional artists, who started to use moving images as an extension of their artistic practice.