Found art is a term used to describe artwork that is made from everyday objects or materials that are not typically considered artistic. The word "found" is pronounced /faʊnd/ in IPA phonetic transcription, and the word "art" is pronounced /ɑrt/. Together, the two words are pronounced /faʊnd ɑrt/. The spelling of "found art" is straightforward, with the only potential confusion coming from the homophones "found" and "founded". However, the context makes it clear that "found" is the correct spelling in this case.
Found art, also known as readymade or objet trouvé, is a unique artistic approach that involves the usage and display of ordinary objects or materials, typically regarded as non-artistic, in a creative context. Rather than actively creating an object from scratch, found art emphasizes the selection, arrangement, and presentation of pre-existing items to evoke cognitive and emotional responses.
Found art emerged as a revolt against the traditional notions of artistic creation and originality during the early 20th century. The concept was predominantly popularized by the influential artist Marcel Duchamp, who famously exhibited everyday objects as art by placing them in a gallery setting. Such objects are often chosen for their aesthetic, symbolic, or conceptual value, and can range from personal artifacts, discarded items, industrial remnants, to natural components.
The core purpose of found art is to challenge conventional artistic principles and redefine the boundaries of visual expression. By recontextualizing mundane objects within artistic settings, artists aspire to encourage viewers to question established notions of beauty, authenticity, and artistic merit. Found art invites observers to contemplate the deeper meanings and inherent value that can be derived from everyday life and the objects that surround us.
Overall, found art celebrates the potential artistic nature of any object, regardless of its original purpose, material, or place of origin. It prompts us to appreciate the transformative power of artistic intention, as well as the immense diversity of the world that surrounds us. Through its unconventional and thought-provoking approach, found art invites us to see the extraordinary in the ordinary and encourages us to reconsider our preconceived notions about art and creativity.
The term "found art" is derived from the broader movement known as "found object art" or "objet trouvé" in French. The concept originated in the early 20th century with the pioneering artist Marcel Duchamp, who is often credited with introducing the idea of using ordinary, pre-existing objects as art.
Duchamp's most famous work, "Fountain" (1917), consisted of a urinal presented as a sculpture. By exhibiting an everyday object in an art context, Duchamp challenged traditional notions of what could be considered art. This notion was further developed and popularized by other artists associated with the Dada and Surrealist movements, who embraced found objects and incorporated them into sculptures, assemblages, and installations.
The term "found art" itself emerged as a simple description of this artistic practice, as it emphasized the notion of finding or discovering objects with inherent visual or conceptual interest in everyday life.