Final answer:
Artists have long pushed the boundaries of traditional mediums, employing materials such as light and technology to explore new forms of expression in art. Through photography and video art, they provided fresh perspectives and responded to social and cultural developments, shaping the evolution of the arts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout history, artists have continuously explored innovative methods to express their artistic vision, often moving beyond traditional approaches to creating art. Some artists focused on the artistic variations achievable with commercial materials, such as Dan Flavin with his light installations, while others like Jeff Wall employed digital photography to create complex, staged tableaux.
Photography, as a medium, became a platform for visual and social experimentation, with artists like Alfred Stieglitz also taking on roles as writers, publishers, and exhibition organizers to champion new approaches within the medium. Similarly, video artists like Peter Campus and Joan Jonas pushed the boundaries of video art by experimenting with the format to create distorted and complex representations.
By embracing new technologies and materials, artists have expanded the definition of art, often in response to social and cultural movements, such as the transformation seen through the works of Umbo in the early twentieth century. Artistic experimentation remains a testament to the evolving nature of art and the persistent quest for new ways of seeing and understanding the world around us.