videotaiteen

Videotaiteen, or video art, is a form of contemporary art that uses video technology as its primary medium. It encompasses single-channel videos, multi-channel installations, and interactive works presented in galleries, museums, or public spaces. Unlike traditional cinema, videotaiteen is often experimental and non-narrative, emphasizing the formal and sensory possibilities of the moving image, time, and viewer perception.

The practice emerged in the 1960s and 1970s with artists such as Nam June Paik, Wolf Vostell, and Vito Acconci, who explored video as a medium beyond commercial television. Through evolving technologies—video cameras, monitors, projection, and later digital video—the field expanded to large-scale installations and immersive environments. In the 1990s and 2000s artists like Pipilotti Rist, Bill Viola, Shirin Neshat, and Christian Marclay helped bring video art to broader audiences, often combining sculptural display, sound, and performance. The medium remains diverse, ranging from intimate single-channel works to sprawling, interactive installations that engage themes such as memory, identity, politics, and globalization.

Presentation and reception: Video art is commonly shown in museums, contemporary art galleries, media art centers, and biennials or festivals dedicated to media or digital art. It faces ongoing questions about conservation, archiving, and the preservation of fragile media formats, as well as the accessibility of experience across different viewing contexts. The field continues to intersect with new media, including digital fabrication, VR, and online platforms, expanding how audiences encounter moving-image art.