Zach Blas
http://moussemagazine.it/zach-blas-contra-internet-art-general-new-york-2018/
***Screenshots from Zach Blas, 'Contra-Internet' (2018)
After attending a talk by artist Zach Blas, I was introduced to the literature of Ayn Rand, which, the artist discusses further in his mousse Magazine interview; Blas discusses Adam Curtis' documentary (2011) which links Rand to the Silicon Valley and this new 'start-up culture' taking place in America. After hearing Blas talk at the Tate Modern on his personal links to the artist Nam June Paik, I read the suggested collection of essays by Rand titled Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal (1966).
'Contra-Internet began as an essay I wrote that attempted to imagine an aesthetics and politics beyond post-internet, out of Paul B. Preciado’s Manifiesto Contrasexual (2002). I would term this relation between contra-internet and the contrasexual as one of “utopian plagiarism.” I learned about this conceptual practice from Ricardo Dominguez.'
As I begin researching into Bitcoin culture, specifically the writings of David Golumbia, I am keen to explore previous works of Blas that explore this 'contra aesthetic' concerning internet use and look further into Nick Bilton and Leisa Miller's writings relating Ayn Rand to current concerns surrounding technology. The artist references the writings of Paul Preciado in his e-flux interview, which I will research further.
http://moussemagazine.it/tishan-hsu-hera-chan-2020/
Artist, Tishan Hsu relationship with the 'technical object' in relation to the writings of Yuk Hui
Yuk Hui's book The Question concerning technology in China (2016) proposes a theory of technology titled "cosmotechnics" which relates Chinese technology to cosmology. Hera Chan's essay, Clinical Cosmology: Tishan Hsu relates the work of Tishan Hsu exploring techne works from the 1970s to the writing of Yuk Hui; Chan discusses Hsu's close relationship with the physical to our understanding of the interface, our close relationship between body and machine, which opens a space of 'fetishism' of the internet. Chan wrote, 'Hsu’s cosmology provides an ontology, a logic of being guided by the animism of technical objects. What a sense of being alive.' Tishan Hsu work follows in parallel with technological developments. Chan references the theorist Donna Haraway who wrote A Cyborg Manifesto (1991) (http://users.uoa.gr/~cdokou/HarawayCyborgManifesto.pdf), Cyborg referring to the theorists bonding of human and machine as a new form of consciousness/ political activism. Haraway expresses (in line with the post-structuralists philosophy) the importance of establishing a more fluid identity in order to free political tyranny. I am keen to explore the writing of Donna Haraway further in order to relate this type of post-structuralist writings to the creative decisions of Tishan Hsu and my interest in 'contra-aesthetic' reflected in technology uses.
Yuk Hui has published the following books, 'On the Existence of Digital Objects' (2016), 'Recursivity and Contingency' (2019), '30 Years After Les Immateriaux: Art, Science and Theory' (2015) ** I am particularly interested in the last book mentioned as I have previously read the writings of Jean-Francois Lyotard, which Hui discusses thirty years after the telecommunication exhibition (http://moussemagazine.it/zach-blas-contra-internet-art-general-new-york-2018/).
Library research
https://www.theblockcrypto.com/linked/49958/nike-receives-patent-to-tokenize-shoes-on-ethereum
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/19/tech/bitcoin-art-maecenas-singapore/index.html
- Art tokenisation, Etherum (computing site), Maecenas (startup), financial technology revolution (Maecenas part of crypto-revolution).
'The Key Concepts', Debra Benita Shaw
'Mapping cyberspace', Martin Dodge and Rob Kitchin
After researching at the library, I found Martin Dodge', 'Mapping Cyberspace' useful for my research into cybernetics and the structure of blockchains. I have begun reading Debra Benita Shaw's, 'The Key Concepts' which is similarly appropriate to my exploration during this project.
Artist research into currency
Rose Finn-Kelcey (1945-2014)
(https://www.creativeboom.com/inspiration/rose-finn-kelcey/)
'Bureau de change'
Whilst researching the artwork of Rose Finn-Kelcey at the library, I found the work, 'Bureau de Change' particularly relevant and engaging with my subject matter; in particular the concept behind the artwork was particularly relevant to my provocation into the digital financial sphere. Thus, the artist's decision to physically present a particular amount of money, after the auction of Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' painting (1887), Finn-Kelcey used change to explore the notion of financial worth and exchange.
'It Pays to Pray' (1999) 'House Rules' (2001)
'Jolly God' (1997)
Alighiero Boetti
'Embroderies including Mappas, Tuttos and a Rug'
Nel Aerts, Carl Freedman Gallery
Visit to Nel Aerts show at the Carl Freedman Gallery in Margate
'The Existential Excursion of Slippery Wobbler and Friends'
https://carlfreedman.com/artists/nel-aerts/
'A Matter Of Memory, Photography As Object In The Digital Age', George Eastman Museum
'Game plan', Alighiero Boetti
Rose Finn-Kelcey, Chisenhale Gallery
Olivia Hernaiz
Paul Maheke, reflective essay
'The year I stopped making art. Why the art world should assist artists beyond representation; in solidarity.'
Essay suggested by ICA daily bander, written by contemporary artist, Paul Maheke
Bedwyr Williams
SIMULATION RESEARCH
A. Pipolotti Rist ('Eyeball Massage')
B. Hito Steyerl
***Venice Biennale and the Serpentine Gallery
C. Pierre Huyghe
D. Ed Atkins
E. Phillipe Parreno ('Elsewhen')
F. Lawrence Lek
http://www.bonuslevels.net/unreal-estate-screenshots.html
G. Cecile B. Evans
B. https://cfitewassilak.wordpress.com/2018/04/16/interview-amos-cecile-b-evans-co/
Cooperative, collaborative and collective art and design practice
ARTISTIC COLLABORATIONS:
****Claes Oldenburg and Cooseje Van Bruggen, David Chipperfield architects, Alexis Mark design studios, Bibliotheque design studio, Yonk design studio, Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro (WomanHouse), Digo studios, Standards Manual, Christo and Jeanne Claude, Steina and Woody Vasulka.
Cooperative, collaborative and collective art and design research in preparation for the commune process.
a. Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro (co-founded), 'WomanHouse'
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/12/arts/design/women-house-judy-chicago.html
Schapiro and Chicago's established house entitled 'WomanHouse' had a great impact on feminist art in America in the 1970s, inspiring the work of Laurie Simmons and Robin Schiff during a pivotal moment in modern art. I wanted to include this collaborative work in my initial commune research as I found the establishment of areas of the 'domestic' space like the 'menstrual' bathroom particularly interesting. I have come across Chicago's work prior, with specific works like Dinner Party (1974) exploring the use of space and how the artist is able to tap into prevailing issues in a collective manner, be it through tapestry or exploring the boundaries of the home.
b. Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen http://oldenburgvanbruggen.com/biography/bios-team.htm
Although I have previous knowledge of Claes Oldenburg I have no idea of his close collaborative relationship with Coosje van Bruggen who completed forty major projects with Oldenburg, similarly to including Chicago and Shapiro I wanted to begin to recognise cooperative pairings. Thus, the period of the Dadaists during the turn of the 20th century, rejecting heavily modern capitalist society which pushed collaborative work. The avant-garde group included artists like El Lissitzky, Francis Picabia, Fernard Leger and Richard Boix. I wish to include some design studio collaborations in order to understand collaboration on a grander scale.
c. Yonk design studios
Outcome 1 research (Matt Mullican, Alighiero Boetti)
Digital tapestries - Building a Bitcoin community
Matt Mullican
'The Quilt's of Gees Bend'
My research into the quilts of Gee's Bend, constitute of quilts created by a group of women and their ancestors, along the Alabama River; this research led me to create 'Blockchains, Digital Tapestries', which explores the role of QR codes and constructed patterns of digital networking, using the structure of a constructed, a rendered board game to explore the idea of creating 'crafted' digital tapestries online. Along with my research into the work of Alighiero Boetti, I am interested in repetitive forms of craft and finding contradictions in the digital environment; particularly finding ways of creating digital habits and location-based crafts.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/fabric-of-their-lives-132757004/
Jon Rafman, Zabludowicz collection
Virtual reality research - Ed Atkins
Martine Syms
'Mapping Cyberspace', Martin Dodge
Prediction, proposal, provocation artwork
A. Sofia Hulten
B. Not-to-scale studio
C. Frederick Heyman
ATM Research
1. Elmgreen and Dragset
2. Allura and Calzadilla