Nervous Systems: Art, Systems, and Politics since the 1960s

Nervous Systems contributors reassess contemporary artists and critics engagement with social, political, biological, and other systems as complex and relational parts, known as systems thinking. They highlight how artists adopt systems thinking to address political, social, and ecological anxieties, covering a wide range of artists and topics. The essays offer an expanded understanding of systems aesthetics beyond technological applications detached from cultural contexts.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 11 February 2022
Publisher: Duke University Press

The contributors to Nervous Systems delve into the intricate relationship between contemporary artists and critics and various systems, including social, political, biological, and more. This approach, known as systems thinking, emphasizes the interconnectedness and complexity of these systems. By showcasing the enduring relevance of systems aesthetics within contemporary art, the contributors highlight how artists employ systems thinking to address pressing political, social, and ecological concerns. Spanning a diverse range of artists and topics, the essays encompass performances by the Argentinian collective the Rosario Group, grid drawings by Charles Gaines, video art by Singaporean artist Charles Lim, and the mapping of global logistics infrastructures by contemporary artists like Hito Steyerl and Christoph Büchel. Together, these essays provide a comprehensive exploration of systems aesthetics, expanding its significance beyond its traditional applications in technology and detached from cultural contexts.

Contributors

Cristina Albu, Amanda Boetzkes, Brianne Cohen, Kris Cohen, Jaimey Hamilton Faris, Christine Filippone, Johanna Gosse, Francis Halsall, Judith Rodenbeck, Dawna Schuld, Luke Skrebowski, Timothy Stott, John Tyson

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478013822