Participatory art can be a people magnet; it acts as a curiosity hook and stimulates thought and conversation. Being invited to touch, to play with materials, to work with colour, brings pleasure and meets a fundamental need for creativity. The passive viewer becomes an active participant. Working alongside others, with a permissible lack of eye contact, can bring freedom and enable participants to have a voice. Aspects of ritual and space for reflection are important parts of the experience too.
However, social engagement through art can also be a provocation. Many of Lou’s interactive installations deliberately provoke conflicting responses. Examining Nicolas Bourriaud’s theory of ‘relational aesthetics’ alongside Claire Bishop’s ‘relational antagonism’, Lou will discuss the tensions involved in working with the public. It can be a complicated balance, but there’s always a sense of ‘knitting together’ – of people, actions, thoughts, conversations and concept.
www.loubakerartist.co.uk @loubakerartist
