Glossary

Kinetic Art is a movement where motion itself is the central element of the artwork. Unlike video, generative, or AI art, which largely take place on a screen, kinetic art is a physical, three-dimensional form and the piece changes its shape, position, or structure through movement. A kinetic artwork is never truly finished, it exists in a permanent state of becoming.

This art form traces back to Marcel Duchamp's 1913 Bicycle Wheel, often cited as one of the first kinetic sculptures. Other pioneers of kinetic art were artists like Alexander Calder, Jean Tinguely, and Victor Vasarely.

Today's kinetic artists work with motors, sensors, and code, creating pieces that shift, respond, or evolve in real time. In a New Media context, kinetic works are often the clearest bridge between historical sculpture and today's technology-driven practices.