Is Wikipedia Art
The question "Is Wikipedia like art?" prompted a variety of responses from workshop participants, with some finding clear parallels between the two processes, while others saw little connection beyond their mutual reliance on research and structure.
“Editing and expanding on a WIKI article feels like working on a sculpture—I can take either an additive or reductive approach toward building.”
For many, the act of building a Wikipedia article mirrored elements of their creative process. One participant reflected, “The investigative process of building an article through research and concise writing feels familiar. Editing and expanding on a WIKI article feels like working on a sculpture—I can take either an additive or reductive approach toward building.” This idea of crafting and shaping content, whether adding new information or stripping away excess, resonated with the artistic process of creation and refinement.
Others noted that Wikipedia’s complexity and structure felt akin to the intricacies of their own work. One participant explained, “Wikipedia is similar to my work in its complexity and the multiple layers involved in creating a successful article. Just as my work involves aspects of mathematics and chemistry, so too does the meticulous coding and structuring required to build a well-rounded Wikipedia entry.” The technical aspects of Wikipedia editing—such as coding, formatting, and organizing content—were seen as parallel to the precision and thought required in creating complex artworks.
“Just as my work involves aspects of mathematics and chemistry, so too does the meticulous coding and structuring required to build a well-rounded Wikipedia entry.”
Another participant connected Wikipedia editing to their broader artistic and curatorial practices, stating, “Wikipedia is like my curatorial practice in that it requires in-depth research and thinking about the topics, people, and themes I am exploring.” This highlights the way both Wikipedia and art can be driven by a deep engagement with subject matter, requiring sustained inquiry and thoughtful presentation. Similarly, one artist remarked, “Part of my art practice seeks to unearth and preserve films from Latin America and the Caribbean… and adding new pages to Wikipedia is a very natural extension of that.” In this case, Wikipedia became a platform to expand their artistic mission, focusing on preservation and accessibility through information-sharing.
However, not all participants saw a direct comparison between Wikipedia and art. One participant observed, “Actually it doesn’t compare to my art process, but I use it a lot to know more about certain artists and art movements.” For this editor, Wikipedia functioned more as a tool for learning and research, rather than a creative outlet. Another echoed this sentiment: “It’s quite different, but in the same way as creating my art, I got lost in information until I had to concretize the ideas.” Here, the connection lies not in the method but in the experience of navigating vast amounts of information before arriving at a concrete result.
For writers, Wikipedia offered an interesting contrast to more freeform, creative approaches. One participant noted, “I write creative nonfiction, which is the opposite in style from Wikipedia. But it still requires organization, flow, order, theme, and a lot of refining to get it right.” While the goals and tone differ, both processes require careful crafting and attention to detail, drawing out the essence of the subject through structure and revision.
For some, the research-driven nature of Wikipedia connected deeply with their personal interests and creative methods. As one participant shared, “It relates to my research processes, my community work, writing practice, and my deep and undying love for systems.” The systematic approach to gathering and verifying information aligned with their artistic dedication to building knowledge and connecting communities.
“Wikipedia relates to my research processes, my community work, writing practice, and my deep and undying love for systems.”
In the end, whether seen as a direct parallel to their art or as a more technical, research-oriented process, many participants found that Wikipedia offered a new and rewarding way to engage with their creative impulses. While some saw clear similarities in the processes of layering, structuring, and refining, others found that the act of contributing to Wikipedia became a new extension of their broader artistic mission.
