Art as Information Ecology: Artworks, Artworlds, and Complex Systems Aesthetics

Jason A. Hoelscher's "Art as Information Ecology" proposes that art is information in its aesthetic or indeterminate mode, oriented less toward answers and resolvability than toward questions, irresolvability, and sustained difference. This information ecology of complex feedback between artwork and artworld drives the unfolding of difference, reconceiving our understanding of how artworks work and how information operates.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 01 October 2021
Publisher: Duke University Press

Jason A. Hoelscher's groundbreaking book, "Art as Information Ecology," presents a comprehensive framework that intertwines information theory and aesthetics to explore the multifaceted nature of art. By delving into the intricate workings of Claude Shannon and Gilbert Simondon's information theories, Hoelscher proposes a novel perspective on art, suggesting that it can be understood as information in its aesthetic or indeterminate mode. This perspective emphasizes the importance of questions, irresolvability, and sustained difference in artistic expression, as these elements contribute to the richness and depth of aesthetic experience.

Hoelscher's analysis reveals that art operates within a complex information ecology, where artworks engage in a dynamic interplay with the artworld. This ecology is driven by the unfolding of difference, creating a rich tapestry of feedback and interconnections. By examining the works of artists such as Frank Stella, Robert Morris, Adrian Piper, the Drop City commune, Eva Hesse, and others, Hoelscher demonstrates how art exists within this information ecology, blurring the boundaries between art and its surrounding context.

One of the key insights of "Art as Information Ecology" is that information in its aesthetic mode can exist beyond the confines of strictly quantifiable and monetizable forms. Hoelscher challenges the traditional understanding of art as a product or commodity and proposes that art can be seen as a form of information that is shaped by cultural, social, and historical contexts. This reconception of art as information opens up new possibilities for understanding how artworks work and how information operates in the broader world.

Through his meticulous research and insightful analysis, Hoelscher offers a fresh perspective on art and its role in shaping our understanding of the world. "Art as Information Ecology" is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of art, information, and culture, as it provides a comprehensive and thought-provoking exploration of this complex subject matter.

Weight: 426g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478014386