Towards Relationality: Sociocultural Embodiment and Interpersonal Interaction

This paper revisits the concept of interaction in interactive art through the lens of sociocultural embodiment and interpersonal dynamics, leaning toward the discourse of relationality. Drawing from phenomenology, post-phenomenology, and embodied interaction theory, the analytical focus shifts from human–machine interaction to artwork-mediated interactions among audience members. After reviewing existing taxonomies of interactive art, the study proposes the concept of audience–artwork–audience interaction to highlight the sociocultural dimensions of interactivity. A curated analysis of Ars Electronica award-winning works categorizes interaction into multi-audience and interpersonal forms. The findings reveal a paradigm shift from technological interactivity to sociocultural relationality, positioning interactive art as a medium of collective, interpersonal, and potentially interspecific experience. The paper concludes by advocating for future interactive art to expand beyond binary interaction models, embracing broader modes of relational interactions.