Art IV

Ecosystem

A system of interconnected living organisms and their environment, originally defined in 1935.

Steady-state ecosystem

An ecosystem characterized by consistent order, presumed to be predictable and unchanging over time.

System esthetics

A concept by Jack Burnham that suggests art exists as part of a larger interconnected system.

Survival Pieces

A series of works by Helen and Newton Harrison focused on ecological concerns, created between 1970-1972.

Making Earth

A Survival Piece by the Harrisons aimed at producing rich soil using organic and inorganic materials.

Rhine Water Purification Plant

A 1972 artwork by Hans Haacke that filters water and serves as an institutional critique of environmental neglect.

Sun Tunnels

An artwork by Nancy Holt consisting of four concrete cylinders aligned with solar events and celestial constellations.

Dark Star Park

An outdoor artwork in Arlington, Virginia, designed to align shadows with specific dates and events.

Untilled

A piece by Pierre Huyghe created for Documenta 13, featuring a beehive and various plant species.

A Meter of Jungle

An artwork by Mark Dion that reflects on the biodiversity and environmental concerns of the Amazon rainforest.

Brine Shrimp and Salt Ponds

Artistic installation by the Harrisons that incorporates ecosystems for brine shrimp within saltwater ponds.

The Lagoon Cycle

A project by the Harrisons that replicates monsoon conditions for crab species from Sri Lanka.

MoMA Poll

Hans Haacke’s 1970 artwork where viewers voted on the New York governor's Southeast Asian policy.

Shapolsky et al Manhattan Real Estate Holdings

An artwork by Hans Haacke protesting slumlord practices with a documentation of apartment buildings.

On Tropical Nature

A project by Mark Dion collecting flora and fauna in the Venezuelan rainforest for artistic representation.