Beyond Distance: The Aesthetic and Ethical Impact of Touch in Art

Abstract

This paper explores the aesthetic and ethical implications of touch in contemporary art, challenging the Kantian notion of aesthetic distance, which has long privileged vision and hearing as the primary senses for experiencing art. Through the analysis of selected works of art, the paper argues that participatory and haptic art redefines aesthetic experience by engaging the body directly, transforming the viewer from a passive observer into an active participant. This shift not only expands the boundaries of aesthetic theory but also introduces new ethical challenges concerning bodily proximity, consent, and participant agency. Drawing on the concept of informed consent from medical ethics, the paper examines whether similar ethical guidelines—focusing on disclosure, comprehension, voluntariness, competence, and the right to withdraw—should be applied to participatory art. The paper concludes that while informed consent could provide a useful ethical framework, it also raises tensions between protecting participants and preserving artistic freedom, highlighting the need for a nuanced approach to the ethics of contemporary art.