Fluxus:

Fluxus was an international, interdisciplinary community of artists, composers, designers and poets during the 1960s and 1970s who engaged in experimental art performances which emphasized the artistic process over the finished product. Fluxus is known for experimental contributions to different artistic media and disciplines and for generating new art forms. These art forms include intermedia, a term coined by Fluxus artist Dick Higgins. Other notable mediums championed by Fluxus includes video art, first pioneered by Nam June Paik and Wolf Vostell. Dutch gallerist and art critic Harry Ruhé describes Fluxus as "the most radical and experimental art movement of the sixties".

Maciunas wrote in an insistent hand: “Purge the world of bourgeois sickness, ‘intellectual,’ professional & commercialized culture, PURGE the world of dead art, imitation, artificial art, abstract art, illusionistic art, mathematical art, — PURGE THE WORLD OF ‘EUROPANISM’!”

The History

Fluxus began in 1959 with a group of 50 international artists who shared a common goal to change how art was perceived at the time. They believed that art had an elitist culture and aimed to change the art world through artists' collaboration and stylistic nuances focusing on social commentary art. Britanica defines Fluxus art as “a loose international group of artists, poets, and musicians whose only shared impulse was to integrate life into art through the use of found events, sounds, and materials, thereby bringing about social and economic change in the art world.”

The first instance of Fluxus in 1959 was through the formation of the New York Audio Visual Group which provided venues for experimental and performance art. In 1961, the first official Fluxus event, Bread & AG, was held by George Maciunas (who is also credited with naming the movement) at the AG Gallery in New York. From there, the movement grew throughout the 1960s to include several forms of art with the same ideal that art should be attainable to anyone.

The Movement

Fluxus is a difficult art movement to define and pin down, as it encompasses a wide range of mediums, styles, and messages. At its core, Fluxus can be seen as a radical, experimental art movement that emerged in the 1960s, and which sought to challenge the traditional boundaries of art and promote a more democratic, participatory approach to creativity.

One of the key figures in Fluxus was the artist, composer, and provocateur George Maciunas, who is often credited with coining the term and helping to shape the movement's direction. Maciunas was deeply influenced by the work of John Cage, who had advocated for an expanded understanding of what could be considered "art." Cage's ideas about the use of chance and indeterminacy in music and performance were embraced by Maciunas and other Fluxus artists, who sought to incorporate similar elements of randomness and unpredictability into their own work.

Fluxus was also heavily influenced by the Dada movement, which had emerged in the early 20th century as a reaction to the horrors of World War I. Like Dada, Fluxus sought to subvert and mock the conventions of the art world, often using humor and absurdity as a means of critique. Fluxus artists also rejected the idea of the artist as a solitary genius, instead envisioning art as a collaborative, collective endeavor.

One of the defining characteristics of Fluxus was its use of everyday objects and materials in artworks. Fluxus artists often incorporated found objects, or "readymades," into their pieces, as well as using more traditional media such as paint and clay. This emphasis on the ordinary and the mundane was meant to challenge the idea that art had to be grand or precious in order to be meaningful.

Fluxus events, which often took the form of performances or happenings, were also a key part of the movement. These events could be spontaneous or planned, and could involve music, poetry, dance, or other forms of expression. Fluxus events were meant to be interactive and participatory, with audience members often encouraged to join in or even create their own contributions.

Fluxus had a significant impact on the art world, both during its heyday in the 1960s and 1970s and in the decades since. Many of the ideas and techniques developed by Fluxus artists have been embraced by other movements and individuals, and have helped to shape the way that we think about art and its role in society.

One of the most significant legacies of Fluxus is its emphasis on process and participation. Fluxus artists rejected the idea that art had to be a finished, polished product, and instead focused on the creative journey itself. This approach has influenced a wide range of artistic practices, from performance art to conceptual art to interactive installations.

Fluxus has also had a major impact on the way that we think about the role of the artist. The movement's embrace of collaboration and its rejection of the idea of the artist as a solitary genius have helped to shift the focus away from the individual and towards the collective. This has paved the way for a more inclusive, diverse art world, in which the contributions of artists from marginalized communities are more likely to be recognized and valued.

In addition to its influence on artistic practices, Fluxus has also had an impact on the way that we think about the art world itself. The movement's critique of the commercialization and elitism of the art world has helped to foster a greater appreciation for alternative spaces and platforms for art, such as artist-run galleries and online communities.

The Art

The main form of art that Fluxus was known for was organized events and performances. In many of these events, the audience was encouraged to view art in a different way and even invited to participate in the performance. The lesser-known form of Fluxus art is unconventional plastic artworks including art boxes such as Fluxkits, prints like art postcards, and films. Oftentimes, Fluxus art is unsigned due to the nature of the art seeking to denounce institutionalism making it about the art rather than the artist.

The Fluxus movement changed the way that people view art and contributed to broadening access to art today. The Fluxus movement is credited as the inspiration for various forms of art that are deliberately not housed in a museum, such as Performance art, Land art, and Graffiti and Street art. Check out our store to see how we have been inspired by this sensational movement.