3) Situationists to Relational Aesthetics

Like society, art is forever changing and forever progressing...

1950's 

Inspired by Dada and Surrealist art in the first half of the 20th century, Letterism was an art and literature movement led by Isidore Isou (self portrait to the left, 1952). By using letters and symbols with the intention (like Dadaists) to break free from the confinements of words and language it was a new possibility of artistic practice, a possibility of liberation with the concept of destructing art and art as destruction. Their strategies were to not only be present within art, but in society.
Guy Debord, a founding member of Letterist International in 1952, later founded the Situationist International (1957); the theory of 'constructed situations.'


These 'constructed situations' is described by art historian, Claire Bishop, as "participatory events using experimental behaviour to break the spectacular find of capitalism. Constructed situations, in which the audience is an active participant, have been an ongoing point of reference for contemporary artists with live events." (Bishop, C, 2006, pp 96)  The situationists "theory resolutely  asserts a non-continious conception of life" (McDonough, T, 2004, pp 48). This is demonstrated in this avant-garde's last action, 'The Naked City' map of Paris, which "illustrat[ed] the hypothesis of pyschogeographical turntables..." and the "spontaneous turns of direction taken by a subject moving through these surroundings in disregard of the useful connections that ordinarily govern his conduct" (McDonough, T, 2004, pp 243), hence the gaps in this radical map.

Definitions established by Situationists:
Derive- a way of thinking, relinquishing moving through spaces, making one aware of everyday life
Detournement- elements can serve in making new combinations (recontextualised)

1970's 

Continuing the idea of 'turning the tables,' during the 1970's a notable revolution was taking place. With the increasing pressure during the Thatcher years, the Punk Revolution was underway in Britain. Punk was to be an entire movement, with clothes and design, music, etc, all stemming from the anarchy and chaos produced by the youths who wanted to be free from constraints.

Iconoclastic artist, Jamie Reid, created what has become one of the most iconic designs for the punk group, Sex Pistols. "God Save the Queen" is recognised worldwide and extends the Situationists perspective of breaking down conformity through shock tactics. In an interview, Malcolm McLaren (manager of the Sex Pistols) stated: "take the notion into your own heart, and redesign it accordingly with your own soul... how are we to redesign our lives?"


1990's to Present

Art movements addressed at so far, were opposed to authoritarianism; moving art away from the bourgeoisie and privileged. Contemporary artists have increasingly become more interested with the viewers involvement, which enters the idea of Relational Aesthetics. Nicolas Bourriaud voices "artistic activity strives to achieve modest connections, open up obstructed passages..." (Bourriaud, N, 2002, pp 8) which is demonstrated in Rirkrit Tirivanija's exhibitions where he prepares and cooks dishes in a gallery space. With the smells as part of the experience, visitors are able to eat the food, while the left overs remain in the space afterword and become the artwork. By recontextualising, this activity is an example how the people create the artwork with social interaction; food being the means of creating an atmosphere.

References:

Bishop, Claire (ed) 2006, Participation,  MIT press, London

Bourriaud, Nicolas (2002), Relational Aesthetics, Presses du reel, Paris

Malcolm McLaren on Situationism and the invention of punk rock at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmVxNoNaWaY

McDonough, Tom (ed) 2004, Guy Debord and the Situationist International- Texts and Documents, MIT press, London