Material and Mind

by Christopher Bardt

An in-depth exploration of the interaction between mind and material world, mediated by language, image, and making—in design, the arts, culture, and science.In Material and Mind, Christopher Bardt delves deeply into the interaction of mind and material world, mediated by language, image, and the process of making. He examines thought not as something “pure” and autonomous but as emerging from working with material, and he identifies this as the source of imagination and creative insight. This takes place as much in such disciplines as cognitive science, anthropology, and poetry as it does in the more obvious painting, sculpture, and design. In some fields, the medium of work is, in fact, the very medium of thinking—as fabric is for the tailor.

Drawing on the philosophical notions of the “extended mind” and the “enactive mind,” and looking beyond the world of material-based arts, Bardt investigates the realms in which material and mind interweave through metaphor, representation, projection, analogues, tools, and models. He considers words and their material origins and discusses the paradox of representation. He draws on the design process, scientific discovery, and cultural practice, among others things, to understand the dynamics of human thinking, to illuminate some of the ways we work with materials and use tools, and to demonstrate how our world continues to shape us as we shape it. Finally, he considers the seamless “immaterial” flow of imagery, text, and data and considers the place of material engagement in a digital storm.

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 2019

Reviews

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely interesting read. As an artist, designer and educator I found this book expressing many of my thoughts far more eloquently. The inclusion of research and studies supports the core idea, that material is a medium through which thoughts are generated.

All of this builds to a poignant end in the last few pages challenging our disconnection from material and the lack of resistance such an existence brings.

Highly recommend for anyone who wants to make things.

[Paméla S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was truly pertinent. In a nutshell, the author discusses how materials ‘resist’ and how “in their resistance to our actions they stimulate the imagination and creativity.” He explains in what ways embodied experiences (sensations, manipulations) disrupt the conceptual framework that we have of materials. The back-and-forth between thinking/receiving and articulation/resistance through different material conditions shape our relationship to our environment.

I would recommend this book to anyone who already has some knowledge of art theory and/or philosophy. The book covers a LOT of different concepts rather quickly. The author does a a really good job at explaining each idea with great clarity, but the text remains rather abstract in some sections.

Loved it!

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good premise and I loved the compelling chapter titles, but this didn’t quite deliver. Too technical, scientific, and inaccessible in parts. Other sections really start to hum and then are abruptly cut short - see Serra, Lewerentz sections. Great pieces on Tuggendaut and Ronchamp were promising and intriguing. I would have prioritized the book differently, but appreciated the renewed focus on an analog designing, thinking, and making.