Activate
To make (something) active or operative.
To convert (a substance, molecule, etc.) into a reactive form (example: activated chlorine).
Activated Art
In my understanding, "Activated art" generally refers to art forms or pieces that require viewer interaction or participation to be fully experienced or understood. By requiring viewers to engage or participate actively, activated art can create a more immersive and dynamic experience, challenging traditional notions of art spectatorship and encouraging a deeper connection between the audience and the artwork.
Besides the process that requires active participation from the audience, another reason I think it's called activated art is that by blurring the boundaries between artist and audience, activated art can create spaces for dialogue, reflection, and action, making it a powerful tool for movements and activists seeking to engage with broader audiences and effect social change.
"Mend Piece" is a participatory artwork created by Yoko Ono. The piece typically consists of broken ceramic fragments or objects that participants are invited to mend using glue or string. The act of mending these broken pieces symbolizes themes of healing, reconciliation, and unity. Participants are encouraged to take part in the process of repair, transforming the broken objects into something whole again. With straightforward directions, the artist asks participants to let go of preconceptions and consider larger ideas: "Mend with wisdom, mend with love./It will mend the earth/at the same time.”
Impact
After reading the article Art Activist: Nature, Culture, and Art-based Environmental Movement, I imagined a big proportion of activated art to be strongly pointing out a problem and alerting the people through interactions or performances. A good example can be the environmental activist groups “Just Stop Oil” and “Letze Generation” (“Last Generation”). Thus the "Mend Piece" impressed me with its peacefulness in both its activity and its core idea. However, its impact is still strong and profound.
Healing and Unity: "Mend Piece" can have a therapeutic effect on participants, symbolizing the process of healing and reconciliation.
Community Building: By engaging in the act of mending together, participants can foster a sense of community and shared experience.
Sustainability: Encouraging repair rather than disposal promotes sustainable practices and reduces waste in line with environmental conservation efforts.
Symbol of Resilience: The act of mending broken pieces can symbolize resilience, transformation, and the beauty in imperfection.
Artistic Expression: Through participation in art-making, individuals can explore their creative sides and contribute to a collective representation of healing and unity.
Iteration
"The Mend Piece embraces the metaphor of the ancient Japanese art of Kintsugi, a technique of repairing broken or cracked pottery using brushstrokes of gold and silver, a philosophy that treats the breakage and repair as part of the object’s history - an important and precious detail, rather than something to disguise. "
An iteration that conveys the same idea can be creating artworks that involve storytelling or personal narratives, where participants mend broken objects while sharing stories or memories associated with the damage, turning the act of repair into a reflective and narrative experience.