Readymade

Readymade

Readymade is a term in art, particularly associated with the Dada movement, referring to everyday manufactured objects that are selected, modified, or combined by an artist and presented as art. The concept was pioneered by French artist Marcel Duchamp in the early 20th century, challenging traditional notions of art, authorship, and aesthetics. Readymades are often mass-produced, functional objects that are repurposed or recontextualized, blurring the lines between art and everyday life. By choosing these objects and presenting them as art, the artist questions the nature of art itself, suggesting that the act of selection and designation by the artist is what defines an object as art, rather than the traditional criteria of skill, aesthetics, or uniqueness. Readymades often incorporate elements of irony, humor, and provocation, challenging viewers to reconsider their preconceptions about art and the role of the artist. The concept has had a profound influence on subsequent art movements, including Surrealism, Pop Art, and Conceptual Art, and continues to be explored by contemporary artists who use found objects, appropriation, and assemblage in their work.

Dada, Marcel Duchamp, found objects, appropriation, assemblage, conceptual art, mass-produced, recontextualization

— John Armstrong