Systems Art - 7.2

What is Systems Art?

1960s–1970s; art focused on systems, processes, and relationships rather than discrete objects

What shift does Jack Burnham describe in Systems Esthetics?

1968; shift from object-based culture to systems-based culture emphasizing process over objects

What is general systems theory?

That there are models, principles and laws applying to all systems regardless of their kind, in which to analyse the nature of their relationships and forces.

How does Systems Art relate to conceptual art?

1960s–70s; both prioritize ideas, processes, and dematerialization of the art object

Barry Lyon, Mapping the Internet (The Opte Project)

2003; early visualization of the internet as a complex network of connections resembling organic systems

What does Mapping the Internet demonstrate about systems thinking?

2003; systems can be visualized as interconnected networks resembling biological or cosmic forms

Cybernetic Serendipity exhibition

1968; ICA London exhibition showing overlap between art, science, and cybernetics

Software exhibition (Jewish Museum, NY)

1970; curated by Jack Burnham, focused on systems and technology but plagued by malfunctions and criticism

What criticisms did the Software exhibition receive?

1970; seen as overly technical, malfunctioning, and conceptually unclear

Architecture Machine Group, Seek

1969–70; installation with gerbils and robotic arm showing interaction between living systems and machines

What happened in Seek installation?

1969–70; robotic system failed, highlighting unpredictability of systems and ethical issues

B.F. Skinner, Air Crib

1945; behaviorist system controlling environment of a child to regulate behavior

How does behaviorism relate to Systems Art?

1950s–70s; both examine stimulus-response systems and control of behavior

Hans Haacke, Condensation Cube

1963–65; sealed cube where condensation forms, showing environmental systems in action

Hans Haacke, Chickens Hatching

1969; installation showing lifecycle of chicks, presenting biological systems in gallery space

Hans Haacke, Goat Feeding in the Wood

1970; ecological intervention showing interaction between animal and environment

Hans Haacke, Rhinewater Purification Plant

1972; system filtering polluted river water, exposing human industrial systems in relation to power.

Hans Haacke, Shapolsky et al. Manhattan Real Estate Holdings

1971; documentation of slumlord property ownership revealing social and economic systems

Why was Haacke’s Guggenheim exhibition cancelled?

1971; political concerns over exposing real estate systems and potential legal issues

What is meant by “systems thinking” in art?

1960s–70s; understanding relationships, networks, and interactions rather than isolated objects

Cildo Meireles, Insertions into Ideological Circuits 1 and 2

1970; political messages printed on bottles to circulate within capitalist systems. Harnessing consumer culture.

Mary Kelly, Post-Partum Document

1973–79; systematic documentation of motherhood, labor, and child development

What does Mary Kelly’s work demonstrate about systems?

1970s; personal life (motherhood) can be analyzed as structured systems of labor and language

Jeremy Deller, The History of the World

1997–2004; diagram mapping cultural and social connections as a system

Sonia Landy Sheridan, Generative Systems

1970s; use of photocopiers and technology to explore image-making systems. People ended up wanting to keep their images.

Sonia Sheridan, Body Print of Marsha Sokol

1972; experimental photocopy work exploring body and technology interaction

Sonia Sheridan, Man Scan with Ric Puls

1974; large-scale photocopy work exploring scale and technological systems

What is feedback in systems theory?

1960s; process where outputs influence inputs, creating continuous loops

William Ross Ashby, Design for a Brain

1952/1960; theory describing systems as feedback loops between observer and environment

What political dimension does Systems Art reveal?

1970s; exposes systems of power, capitalism, environment, and institutions

What is meant by “event container” in Systems Art?

1960s–70s; artwork that contains and displays a process or system unfolding over time

How does Systems Art challenge traditional art objects?

1960s–70s; replaces static objects with dynamic, time-based processes