May I contribute a naive circumscription of the "time based" portion of
"time based art". It is a circumscription, less so a definition - it can get
expanded into all the different directions and views as expressed in this
exchange.
"Time based" in the combination with art quite obviously wants to create a
difference to "non time based art". And the term surfaces when the
"performing arts" and the "fine arts" were bred with electricity. For
instance, we had mobiles and Tinguely before time-based art came about,
there were many hybrids between moving and non-moving before.
This naive description would be that time based arts (please now notice the
plural arts, not singular art any more) would be that anything that moves on
a vector of time and where our senses can perceive that change of the "it",
we can put it in the box of time based art(s).
The test situation is an oil painting that falls off its hook on the wall
and starts to move downward. This is where we may start to discuss
intentionality, time as shaped or shaping material.
The next level of test question would be: a sculpture that is left to rain
and that deteriorates or has moss growing all over. And (a) someone made it
for this, and (b) it simply was forgotten and rediscovered, and © I don't
know and assume one or the other. And then all those thoughts can follow,
that were discussed and need to be discussed as in this forum.
I have to explain the difference between time-based art(s) and traditional
non-performing-arts about a dozen times a week or a month - to people who
are not part of the "arts world" as in our discussions.
Anything that moves on a time line and that is meant to move on a time line
and that I can perceive via the specific resolution of my senses as moving
and that was "meant to move or change" and that for some reason or the other
falls under a definition of "art".
Everything that hangs or sits still may evoke me to walk around it, explore
it as I move through space and time - but as names are meant to
differentiate, such things may not fall under time based arts. Unless you
and I agree that it would make sense to call it time based arts.
Just a few simple thoughts.
Maybe a definition is less interesting than the discussion to find a
definition.
Johannes
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