The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar

Presence of the Body in Installation Space: The Theatrical Encounter and Sensory Experience in Shirazeh Houshiary’s Installation “Breath”

https://doi.org/10.22034/bagh.2025.540356.5874
Volume 23, Issue 155
May 2026
Pages 15-26
The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Majid Asadi Farsani
Razieh Mokhtari Dehkordi

Department of Visual Communication, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran

Abstract
Problem statement:  The present study investigates installation art as a distinct genre and its impact on the viewer’s experience. The primary focus is on the interaction between the human body and space during the encounter with an artwork.
Research objectives: The core objective is to explore how installation art, by establishing specific spatial conditions, actively incorporates the physical presence of the audience into the perceptual reception of the work.
Research method: Employing a qualitative, case-study methodology, this research examines the installation Breath by Shirazeh Houshiary. The artwork is analyzed through its visual, auditory, and spatial characteristics to elucidate its experiential dimensions.
Conclusion: By creating a dark and confined space, Breath engages the viewer in an immersive environment that directs their visual and auditory senses toward a profound state of introspection. In this experience, the spectator’s body becomes an integral component of the artwork, thereby challenging the “autonomy of the art object” in favor of the viewer’s “personal experience.” The findings reveal that Breath not only affirms the concept of “theatricality” as a pivotal element in contemporary art but also instigates a fundamental paradigm shift in understanding the nexus of art, space, and the human body. Ultimately, this installation exemplifies an immersive and transformative experience that redefines the audience’s interaction with both space and time.

Keywords

Installation art
Human body
Sensory experience
Shirazeh Houshiary
Breath installation.
Subjects
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