Constructing Space

One of the goals of Minimalist artists was to produce work that engaged the surrounding space. Of course art is always made to be looked at, but these artists sought to involve viewers in a more physical way, acknowledging that their perception shifts as they move through space. Sculpture of the past often employed this understanding—and just as often did not—with some sculptors intending their work to be viewed from one fixed point of view, as with a painting. Three-dimensional works by Minimalist artists used a wide range of materials to engage both the surrounding space and the viewer.