Dematerialization of Art: Concepts and Its Traces in Contemporary Indian Art

Abstract

This paper explores the concept of “dematerialization” which was introduced by Lucy Lippard and John Chandler in their work on conceptual art that emerged in the 1960s. Dematerialization stands for the dominance of ideas linked with intelligence on materiality linked with sensory perception. So, dematerialization is a kind of process in which ideas take the lead and become primary, and materiality loses its traditional status and becomes secondary. The notion of dematerialization can be reconsidered on these grounds. First of all, the core of the work is the idea or concept, no material form. Secondly, the core of the artwork is not confined to what the viewer “looks at” as an art object as a final product. Thus, the idea permits the process. The concept of dematerialization gave a new vision to Indian artists to explore their feelings and thoughts through concepts and ideas with readymade objects. By interpreting conceptual art and dematerialization, the author concludes that these tendencies share significant similarities, and that is a beneficial and innovative sight in the contemporary art scene in India.