Art and Science

by Sian Ede

Is science the new art? Scientists weave incredible stories, invent wild hypotheses and ask difficult questions about the meaning of life. They have insights into the workings of our bodies and minds which challenge the myths we make about our identities and selves. They create visual images, models and scenarios that are gruesome, baffling or beguiling. They say and do things that are ethically and politically shocking. Contemporary scientists frequently talk about 'beauty' and 'elegance'; artists hardly ever do. While demonstrating how science is affecting the creation and interpretation of contemporary art, this book proposes that artistic insights are as important on their own terms as those in science and that we can and should accommodate both forms of knowledge.
Featuring the work of artists such as Damien Hirst, Christine Borland, Bill Viola and Helen Chadwick, and art-science collaborative ventures involving Dorothy Cross, Eduardo Kac and Stelarc, it looks at the way new scientific explanations for the nature of human consciousness can influence our interpretation of art, at the squeamish interventions being produced by artists relishing in new technologies and at art which takes on the dangers facing the fragile environment. Seeing the world from the other point of view can inform the practice of both sides - this book will provide new insights to artists, scientists and the wider public.

Genres: Science, Art

226 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Siân Ede

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

sian ede has written/edited several books on this subject - art & science. she begins this book by pointing out something i have also heard discussed: how in our postpostmodern era you are probably more likely to hear scientists talk about beauty when describing their work than artists. ede explores both the culture of science and the culture of art and where they interact and intercept and totally miss each other. this book is a cool way to review some art history and also learn about some cutting edge art and totally badass techniques that's happening, but more than that this book puts it all into context - the very primitive basicness of us being humans ... our exploration of what it is like to be alive and be conscious of it and what we choose to do with that. this is one of my favorite contexts for reading art history.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ede's writing is okay but her structure is meandering--as it probably has to be to adequately describe so many art and science projects as she does.

And as nice as the guided tour is for sampling--fairly quickly and thus superficially--some interesting art and science, beyond the survey, Ede doesn't really say much. Or at least doesn't say much that she couldn't have said in half as many pages. In the end her argument isn't much more than a plea for humans to stay open-minded, to appreciate different perspectives and not discount them.

In her intro Ede says she is writing to introduce scientists to art, artists to science and even non-artists-non-scientists to both. Trying to make it accessible to so many is what limited the book to being little more than a short survey but there are probably better surveys out there that are better by virtue of knowing they are surveys.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book showing how the very best of ground breaking contemporary art contains knowledge of modern science and philosophy.