Fluxus
An international community emphasizing chance-based process over finished product.
Fluxus was an international, interdisciplinary community of visual artists, composers, designers, and poets active during the 1960s and 1970s. Inspired by John Cage, they engaged in experimental art performances that emphasized chance-based process over the finished product. Fluxus is known for experimental contributions to different artistic media and disciplines, including intermedia, conceptual art, and video art, and is described by Dutch gallerist Harry Ruhé as 'the most radical and experimental art movement of the sixties'.
- died
- 1970s (active period)
- field
- Visual art, music, performance, poetry, design
- nationality
- International
- known_for
- Experimental performances, intermedia, conceptual art, video art, anti-commercial and anti-art sensibilities
Lore & Background
Artists such as Jackson Mac Low, La Monte Young, George Brecht, Al Hansen, and Dick Higgins attended these classes. Another major influence was Marcel Duchamp's readymades and Dada anti-art. Maciunas initially referred to Fluxus as 'neo-dadaism' or 'renewed dadaism'.
Reader's Guide
Fluxus's significance lies in its radical redefinition of art as process rather than product, heavily influenced by John Cage's ideas and Marcel Duchamp's readymades. The movement generated new art forms including intermedia (coined by Dick Higgins), conceptual art (first developed by Henry Flynt), and video art (pioneered by Nam June Paik and Wolf Vostell). Fluxus artists produced performance 'events', Neo-Dada noise music, concrete poetry, and time-based works, sharing anti-commercial and anti-art sensibilities. Rather than a unified movement, Fluxus operated as a loose community through festivals in Wiesbaden, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Amsterdam, London, and New York, described by some artists as a 'laboratory'. Its legacy includes influencing conceptual art, performance art, and intermedia practices, challenging traditional boundaries between artist, audience, and artwork.
Did You Know?
- The term 'intermedia' was coined by Fluxus artist Dick Higgins.
- Fluxus is sometimes described as 'intermedia' and was initially referred to by Maciunas as 'neo-dadaism'.
- Many Fluxus artists, including Yoko Ono and Nam June Paik, were part of a diverse community of collaborators and friends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fluxus?
Fluxus was an international collective of visual artists, composers, poets, and designers who operated mainly in the 1960s and 1970s. They prioritized experimental, chance-driven performance over polished final products, drawing heavy inspiration from composer John Cage.
What is Fluxus known for?
The group is celebrated for pushing boundaries across intermedia, conceptual art, and early video art through deliberately anti-commercial and anti-art performances. Their events often embraced absurdity, audience participation, and the rejection of traditional gallery conventions.
Why is Fluxus considered important in art history?
Dutch gallerist Harry Ruhé called it "the most radical and experimental art movement of the sixties," and it is widely credited with broadening what counts as art by dissolving boundaries between disciplines. Its emphasis on process, chance, and audience involvement laid groundwork for performance art, conceptual art, and participatory practices that dominate contemporary art today.
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