Found Objects as Art: Influence of Marcel Duchamp on Contemporary Pakistani Art

Abstract

The art of Pakistan is under constant evolution. This research aims to study the changing perceptions of art in Pakistan, where the idea behind the artwork supersedes the act of creation. The article intends to investigate the definition of art with respect to the found object art, also known as ready-made art. It is a revolutionary form of artistic expression, which challenges the conventional practice of creativity by presenting everyday objects assembled within a gallery or museum. The pioneer of found object art Marcel Duchamp, a Modern Western artist, defines art as an idea, rather than the process of making. Building upon Duchamp’s legacy, this article examines the paradigm shift in Pakistani art from art-making to art-assembling. The found object art by contemporary Pakistani artists, Huma Mulji, Adeela Suleman, Ehsan ul Haq, and Mohsin Shafi, depicts how the identity and connotation of these objects transform according to the spatial context, provoking diverse responses from the viewers. This qualitative research presents an analytical study of found object art by Duchamp and aforementioned Pakistani artists. The images of artworks, collected from museum visit, books, and online sources, help examine the innovative approach of these artists, which stimulates viewer’s curiosity, prompting them to question the very essence of art. The research demonstrates the significance of found objects in expanding the boundaries of creative expression, art definition, and viewer’s experience, besides broadening the perception of art in Pakistan.