The term “process art” refers to a type of art in which the process of creation is more important than the final product. Process art can be found in many different areas of the art world. Two-dimensional visual arts like painting and drawing, as well as more complex or obscure forms of art like performance art, use this approach to art.
The philosophy of process art is often followed in some traditional forms of art to demonstrate expositional methods to fully show the process. The end product, for example, is usually the focus of the viewer or art consumer in painting or photography. To transform these works of art into process art, the artist must document the entire process and display it alongside the finished product to help viewers understand why it is so important.
Other forms of art are more receptive to this concept. The broad category of art installation is one of them. An artist creates an art installation by filling a larger space with a complex set of objects, documents, videos, or other items. Process art can be more easily displayed in installation art because the artist can use the larger space to take viewers on a journey through the artist’s process.
Performance art is frequently influenced by process-oriented forms of art. The art process in performance art is characterized by transience and interactivity. The artist can incorporate elements of process oriented art into his or her work because the viewers or consumers are watching the artist over time. A performance artist, for example, could create a painting or other work of art in front of an audience, allowing the audience to see and understand the process. This is especially true in some types of artisanal crafts and street painting, where the artist’s method is one of the most prominent features of the work.
Process-oriented art, in general, incorporates a specific technique philosophy. Whereas some forms of art focus solely on the final product, process art is frequently created to emphasize the importance of content over style or function over form. Insiders in the art world frequently ponder what process art is and why it is created in a particular artistic community. In some cases, demonstrating a piece’s complexity and the amount of effort that went into it can help to increase its value.
Large outdoor installations, which are sometimes created by well-known artists, are another good example of process art. When an artist is commissioned to create a work for a public space, the process is frequently documented in local newspapers and other forms of media. Because arranging for artwork in a public space can be so difficult, the process automatically becomes important and interesting to the general public.