Art@Science

by Christa Sommerer and Laurent Mignonneau
Springer Verlag, Wien 1998
ISBN 3-211-82953-9

Reviewed by Annick Bureaud

This book is not just another collection of essays on the relations between art and science. The approach of the editors (Sommerer and Mignonneau) introduces a real breakthrough that put an end to the dualistic, cartesian way of looking at this issue that has so far characterized most writting about it.

In the introduction they write: "We suggest that art and science should no longer be considered separate and contrary disciplines, but instead complementary to each other, where patterns of mind (art) and patterns of matter (science) are reflections of one another that are dynamically interrelated throught the human consciousness, changing their states from mind to matter and vice versa, from matter to mind. We consider both of them part of a holistic, intinsically dynamic and self consistent universe."

On this basis, they have organized the book in 8 chapters. Five of them are dedicated to key contemporary researches and issues : Telecommunications, Scientific Visualization, Artificial Life, Artists as Researchers, Chaos and Complex Systems. Three relate to the "environment" and history of the art/science field : Public Spaces (where and how to exhibit the artworks, presentation of the experiences conducted at ICC, ZKM and The Exploratorium), Education of Art and Science and Art and Science in Historical and Cultural Context.

The essays of each of the contributors (artists, scientists, researchers, theoreticians or ... all at the same time in the same person) focus on an element of the puzzle but with the same holistic approach. It is to the editors credit that they have avoided artificial connections and gathered such diverse and rich material from so many challenging people, among whom Philippe Queau, Donna Cox, Thomas Ray, Louis Bec, Machiko Kusahara, Michael Naimark, Peter Weibel, Otto Rossler, Toshiharu Itoh, Itsuo Sakane, Roy Ascott and the editors themselves.

The only minor (but irritating) fault of this book are the many typo errors and spelling mistakes.