Instruction based art is where an artist of any form sets out a list of instructions, no matter how brief or how detailed, and the responder has to follow those instructions exactly. They are left to interpret many blank spaces which gives space for their creativity, leading to several different interpretations of the same set of instructions. A good example for a set of instruction lists is the 'Do It' book by Hans Ulrich Obrist. The book has been translated into different languages all over the world, with over 200 artists contributing to the book. It is arguably considered one of the largest pieces of art-work.
Fountain - Marcel Duchamp
Instruction-based art, or Conceptual art, "art where the idea (or conecpt) behind the work is more important than the finished art object", became a movement in the 1960s and it is this period of time it is more heavily associated with. Canceptual Art however began to appear before the 60s, with Marcel Duchamp who became an important figure within Conceptual Art, displaying his first ready made 'Fountain' in 1917. Conceptual Art was questioned throughout it's time, however many artists continued to create it into the 21st century.
My Instruction Based Art
During lesson, we were given a list of instructions which we were then given week to follow. My instructions were to take portraits of people not in a normal position, and then create a montage out of them. My interpretation of a 'normal portrait' were pictures of people taken in formal setting, against a white background etc. I decided to take pictures in a more relaxed, casual setting, where people weren't posing in a formal, forced way. I looked out for when people might not necessarily be paying attention to the camera, leaving the photo less structured. When I did take pictures of people looking at the camera, I made sure there wasn't much time for them to prepare themselves, and it was a brief moment. I used the natural light in the room when taking my photos and avoided using the flash so that they would all have similar lighting and work together as a montage next to each other. I also did this because I din't want the photos to be too set up and by using different lighting they would seem more staged.