Found object

A found object, also known as objet trouvé, is a type of art created from items that are not usually considered art materials. These objects often have a non-art function, such as a tool or a household product. The identity of the art comes from the artist's designation and the social history of the item. By selecting these objects, the artist invites the audience to contemplate them in a new way. This process can prompt many different feelings, such as nostalgia, empathy, indifference, or even disgust.

Artists use found objects through several distinct methods. One method involves the "readymade," which refers to completely unaltered everyday objects selected by the artist. Another method is "assemblage," where an artist combines several different found objects into a single work. For example, Jose de Creeft created large-scale assemblages like Picador in 1925 using scrap metal and rubber. Some artists also modify their objects, such as Man Ray, who created the piece Gift in 1921. He attached nails to the underside of an iron, which rendered the tool useless.

There are many specific sub-classifications of this art form. During the Surrealist Exhibition of Objects in 1936, many categories were defined. These included natural objects, mathematical objects, and even Oceanic objects. A more recent variation is "commodity sculpture," which emerged in the 1980s. This style uses commercially mass-produced items arranged in a gallery to focus on marketing and product display. An example is Jeff Koons' 1985 work, Two Ball 50/50 Tank, which features basketballs floating in a glass tank.

The history of found objects includes several important precursors. Some curators believe East Asian scholar's rocks are early examples of this practice. These natural rocks are found in nature and displayed on stands to represent nature. In France, Alphonse Allais created a work before 1897 consisting of a green carriage curtain. This work was exhibited at the Incoherents exhibitions in Paris between 1883 and 1893. Some historians consider this the oldest known readymade and a major influence on later artists.

Marcel Duchamp is the artist most famous for perfecting the readymade concept. He coined the term in 1915 while living in New York. His work Bicycle Wheel, created in 1913, attached a bicycle wheel and fork to a stool. In 1917, he presented Fountain, a standard urinal purchased from a hardware store. He signed the piece with the pseudonym "R. Mutt." This work confounded the art world and challenged the distinction between art and non-art.

Found objects also appear in the form of "trash art" or "junk art." These works use discarded components, often taken literally from the trash. This includes "trashion," which is fashion made from waste. For instance, Marina DeBris creates clothing from trash found on beaches. Other artists, like Paul Yore, use trash to examine excess consumption in society.

This subgenre often carries a social purpose, such as raising awareness about waste.

Beyond visual arts, found objects are used in the field of music. This is a key part of the musique concrète genre, which uses found sounds. Musicians like Björk and Radiohead have incorporated these sounds into their work. Some artists, such as Cosmo Sheldrake, use sounds from natural ecosystems. He suggests that using these soundscapes can help communicate messages about climate change.

The use of found objects remains a subject of debate among critics and the public. In the 1990s, the Young British Artists caused polarized debates in Britain. While museums supported the work, some journalists and the public rejected it. In 1999, the Stuckists group even issued a manifesto against ready-made art. They argued that such work was a "polemic of materialism" and called for a return to painting.