Art is not a thing; it is a way." Elbert Hubbard, artist
"Art also lies in the creation of our own senses." Neil Harbisson, cyborg artist?
Using our definition of art and artistic tools, we have compared two artists that rely heavily on technology. Remy Siu was asked to defend why he should not be considered a cyborg artist. He was asked to challenge Harbisson's claim that sensory modification is a new artistic practice. It is now time for you to make your decision. Before finalizing your opinion, lets review some responses from Siu's interview.
Remy Siu Quotes
For simplicity, we have colour coded the responses into three categories (apologies if you cannot see colour). This coding doesn't mean that we are correct; rather, it is just to demonstrate a possibility. Please use your own coding to examine Sui's quotes.
The artistic approach or way has changed because of how artists use artistic tools
Technology has changed artistic approach or way, not necessarily artists. Thus technology should just be considered a tool.
The artistic approach or way is still the same
Technology has changed artistic approach or way, not necessarily artists. Thus technology should just be considered a tool.
The artistic approach or way is still the same
"In the history of art making, tools have been constantly changing how we make art, what forms are available and what we can do."
"The magnitude of computing and the magnitude of computation gives us much more possibility than other tools that have come before. That is not to demote those tools or create a hierarchy, but I'm saying that computers, to a certain extent, are changing our practice in a way that perhaps could be unprecedented."
"If we start to use computers, those rules can be offloaded to the computer and the performers can worry about the specific tasks they are doing and make more interesting decisions in the piece"
"I'm not augmenting her senses but I guess I am augmenting the piece itself and how she is behaving inside the piece."
"The whole point to do it was to accent her presence, as a performer, and her humanness as a performer and her fallibility."
"We have always been augmenting our skills. We have been augmenting our skills with a hammer, with a wheel, with bicycles, with cars ... I guess when it comes to the digital stuff, it has become so intimate that it is augmenting our senses now."
"He wouldn't be able to experience these colours if he didn't have this tool. So, that creates new human experience and we can turn new human experiences into new art, but I don't think it is a huge conceptual shift. The way we will approach using these tools, is the same way that we approach any new tool as artists."
"The processes are not identical but it's really just about learning and becoming more close and intimate with the material you have."
"I think we are always just trying to take these things that we observe or experience and turn it into something interesting."
"Practices have changed, but I think that the learning process and the engagement process with the artist and the tool is still similar"
"Artists are being a bit sensationalist about computers and the use of computers and technology in art ... and ... maybe they shouldn't"
"We can look at how society changed with the printing press when it came to the internet or access to knowledge. There is precedence. To claim that there is no precedence is a bit much..
"The magnitude of computing and the magnitude of computation gives us much more possibility than other tools that have come before. That is not to demote those tools or create a hierarchy, but I'm saying that computers, to a certain extent, are changing our practice in a way that perhaps could be unprecedented."
"If we start to use computers, those rules can be offloaded to the computer and the performers can worry about the specific tasks they are doing and make more interesting decisions in the piece"
"I'm not augmenting her senses but I guess I am augmenting the piece itself and how she is behaving inside the piece."
"The whole point to do it was to accent her presence, as a performer, and her humanness as a performer and her fallibility."
"We have always been augmenting our skills. We have been augmenting our skills with a hammer, with a wheel, with bicycles, with cars ... I guess when it comes to the digital stuff, it has become so intimate that it is augmenting our senses now."
"He wouldn't be able to experience these colours if he didn't have this tool. So, that creates new human experience and we can turn new human experiences into new art, but I don't think it is a huge conceptual shift. The way we will approach using these tools, is the same way that we approach any new tool as artists."
"The processes are not identical but it's really just about learning and becoming more close and intimate with the material you have."
"I think we are always just trying to take these things that we observe or experience and turn it into something interesting."
"Practices have changed, but I think that the learning process and the engagement process with the artist and the tool is still similar"
"Artists are being a bit sensationalist about computers and the use of computers and technology in art ... and ... maybe they shouldn't"
"We can look at how society changed with the printing press when it came to the internet or access to knowledge. There is precedence. To claim that there is no precedence is a bit much..
Observations
Notice that Siu's comments do not seem to have one particular theme. It appears that his argument is that emerging technology, including sensory extensions, do not necessarily change the way in which artists approach art. He suggests that trying to categorize an artist as a cyborg is inherently flawed. He believes that, depending on the tool and the circumstance, both artists' practices and artistic tools can be used in traditional and non-traditional ways.
Final Thoughts
Perhaps it was our logic that was flawed. We formulated a definition for art before looking at the purpose of artistic tools.
- Artistic tools can help artists portray, experience or portray and experience their reality
- Art is not a thing; it is a way