artisticus

Artisticus is a term used in contemporary art discourse to describe a concept that emphasizes the interrelation of technique, concept, and reception in artistic practice. It functions as a heuristic rather than a fixed movement, applied across media to foreground the artist's intentional process and the way a work is experienced by viewers.

Origin and etymology: The word derives from Latin artisticus, meaning pertaining to art. In critical writing, it began to appear in late 20th-century discussions as scholars sought a concise label for works treated as deliberate explorations of making, rather than as finished products alone.

Definition and usage: In theoretical contexts, artisticus denotes a stance that treats craft, concept, and context as inseparable. Works described as artisticus tend to reveal their methods, materials, and decisions, invite reflection on authorship, and position the viewer as an active participant in interpretation rather than a passive observer.

Contexts: The term has appeared across visual art, performance, and digital media, and is sometimes linked with process art, system art, and relational aesthetics, though it is not tied to any single school. It is often used to discuss works that foreground laboratory-like experimentation, critique of production, or collaborative authorship.

Reception: Critics view artisticus as a useful umbrella for discussing intentionality in art, yet some argue it is diffuse or ambiguously defined, risking overlap with established terms like concept art or process art.

See also: Aesthetics, Art theory, Process art, Relational aesthetics.