artssuch

Artssuch is a term used in contemporary discourse to describe an approach or umbrella for art practices that foreground relationality, social engagement, and process over finished objects. It is not a fixed style but a heuristic for discussing works that invite participation, co-creation, and reflection on social contexts.

The term emerged in online forums and critical writings in the early 2020s. There is no formal definition or institutional consensus, and its meaning varies among authors. It is often used to contrast object-centric or author-centric forms of art with participatory or community-based practices.

Commonly attributed characteristics include emphasis on collaboration between artists and communities, ongoing or evolving projects rather than completed artifacts, site-specific or context-aware interventions, attention to ethics and transparency about authorship, and a focus on relational or affective outcomes rather than commodity value.

Reception has been mixed: supporters view artssuch as a useful umbrella for discussing participatory and socially engaged art, while critics warn that the term can be vague and ill-suited for precise analysis. Some analysts compare it to established notions such as relational aesthetics, social practice in art, or participatory art, while others call for careful specification of goals and methods within each project.

In practice, artssuch-inspired works might involve community members in design or performance, open-ended installations that evolve with participant input, or digital projects that adapt in response to user interactions.

Related concepts include social practice in art, relational aesthetics, and participatory art.