Interactive installations as performance

This paper identifies a theoretical framework of interactive installations as inspirational artistic probes for human-computer interaction (HCI). It develops interstices of interactive installations by drawing from new media and digital art. Performance studies provides key terminology -- in constitutive, epistemic, and critical characteristics of performance -- to illustrate how interactive installations can reference their audiences' social and cultural contexts and foster physical and emotional engagement, and influence critical thinking. This overlaps with HCI concerns but provides an approach that originates in the art-based community, highlighting the relevance of interactive installations to HCI. This connection and the inspirational role of interactive installations are discussed and supported by examples.