It was really Jean Tinguely who invented and introduced the idea of performative art. From the 1950s onwards, he created sculptural machines that moved independently and created their own artworks and, in doing so, he recreated the role of the artist. One sculpture, Homage to New York, was built to destroy itself. He also made many Métamatic sculptures, which were autonomous art robots: They used a mechanical arm to make abstract drawings. The intrigue and uncertainty of what these machines This story is from Kinfolk Issue Thirty-Two Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 48 Jordan Casteel The acclaimed painter of people—and now plants. Arts & Culture Issue 48 The Sweet Spot How long is the perfect vacation? Arts & Culture Issue 48 Cliff Tan Four questions for a feng shui guru. Arts & Culture Issue 48 Figure Skating with Mirai Nagasu The Olympic athlete has known glory, pain and transcendence on the ice. Arts & Culture Issue 48 Sweet Nothing On the virtues of hanging out. Arts & Culture Issue 48 The Art of Fashion On what artists’ clothes communicate.
Arts & Culture Issue 48 Figure Skating with Mirai Nagasu The Olympic athlete has known glory, pain and transcendence on the ice.
