When we think of art, grand museum exhibitions, polished galleries, or large-scale public installations often come to mind. Yet, what if art is found not only in curated spaces but also in the mundane corners of everyday life? The concept of “everyday installations” challenges traditional boundaries of art, inviting us to see unintentional, everyday arrangements of objects as aesthetic experiences.
What Are Everyday Installations?
Everyday installations are unintentional compositions of objects, often found in public or private spaces, which evoke a sense of artistry. These might include a pile of furniture discarded on a street corner, an arrangement of tools in a workshop, or even the placement of traffic cones on a construction site. Unlike traditional art forms, these scenes are not created with artistic intention but can nevertheless be perceived as art through the observer’s lens.
This concept draws on traditions like readymades, famously pioneered by Marcel Duchamp in the early 20th century. Duchamp’s work, such as Fountain (1917), redefined art by presenting ordinary objects—like a urinal—as artworks, contingent on their context and the observer’s perspective. Everyday installations expand this idea by focusing on unplanned arrangements, where the “artist” is often an anonymous passerby or the randomness of urban life itself.
Another significant influence is Joseph Beuys, who emphasized that “everyone is an artist” and explored how everyday materials could hold deep symbolic power. Similarly, the Arte Povera movement of the 1960s embraced raw, everyday materials to challenge the elitism of the art world, focusing on texture, form, and the interplay of objects. Everyday installations continue this legacy by democratizing art, making it accessible to anyone willing to notice its presence in their surroundings.
Art in Public Spaces: Curated vs. Spontaneous Art
One of the most compelling aspects of everyday installations is their relationship to public space. Unlike curated public art—such as statues, murals, or designed installations—everyday installations emerge spontaneously, shaped by chance or necessity rather than artistic intent. For example, the placement of objects left behind by workers at a construction site might inadvertently create a visually striking composition.
Curated public art often involves significant planning, funding, and a clear intent to convey a message or evoke an emotion. In contrast, everyday installations are fleeting and serendipitous. They offer a sense of discovery and spontaneity, requiring no plaques or explanatory texts. This unintentionality is both their limitation and their charm: they exist for those who take the time to notice.
Artists and cultural commentators like Paulus Goerden have popularized the notion of everyday installations through platforms like Instagram. By documenting and framing these moments in digital spaces, Goerden brings attention to what might otherwise be overlooked. His work encourages viewers to engage with their surroundings more attentively, blurring the line between the curated and the accidental.
The Perception of Everyday Objects as Art
The question of what qualifies as art lies at the heart of everyday installations. Why might a discarded sofa on a sidewalk elicit aesthetic pleasure in one observer while seeming like mere trash to another? Philosopher Arthur Danto’s idea of the “artworld” offers insight: an object becomes art when it is situated within a context that frames it as such. Everyday installations challenge this framework by asking whether the “artworld” is necessary at all. Can art exist without galleries, curators, or critics—relying solely on individual perception?
Moreover, everyday installations encourage a heightened awareness of our surroundings. They celebrate the unpolished, the random, and the overlooked, emphasizing that beauty and meaning can be found in the ordinary. This perspective aligns with movements like wabi-sabi in Japanese aesthetics, which values imperfection and impermanence.
Everyday Installations in the Digital Age
In the age of social media, the concept of everyday installations has gained new relevance. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok allow artists and influencers to capture and share fleeting moments of accidental artistry. Digital documentation transforms these ephemeral scenes into semi-permanent works of art, accessible to a global audience.
However, this transition from physical space to digital media raises questions about the nature of art itself. Does an everyday installation lose its authenticity when it is framed and edited for an online audience? Or does its presence in the digital realm allow more people to engage with it, democratizing access to art?
