2.2.4.3. Confronting motives: conclusion
| artist's attitude to science & technology | aRt&D method | collaboration's characteristics | Theoretical context / Matching approach(es) | Interdisciplinary output application domain |
| Self-sufficient | DIY and hacker method | Misinterpretation / re-interpretation protest / activism via alternative methods, mostly small scale | Post-modernism, deconstruction, Avantgarde, activism, critical theory, autonomy, relevant in multi disciplinary collaborations often autodidact multitasker, exchange with other independent operators, FLOSS development | think tank or brain storm approach, engagement, Critiquing, awareness, empiric or practical approach, singleperson multi tasking, artist-commentator, engineering, hackers |
(fig. 7 aRt&D matrix DIY method)
The intended or provocative collisions are deeply rooted in art practice, and thus have their own objectives and generate their own dynamics. With the cultural activist, we finally encountered the artist who is trying to save the world. Although the goals seem to match with the expectations of the scientists (see chapter 2.1.), obviously most artists operating in this field stress the importance of ideological independence for their actions. Because of this, cultural activism is often less suitable for collaboration due to the research agendas of larger research centres. Autonomy and tactical use of media are among the essential conditions for the cultural activist’s practice.
Earlier in this chapter, the case was made that what might be called ‘Wild Thinking’ doesn’t necessarily lead to scientific breakthroughs. ‘Wild Thinking’ seems to be a self-evident aspect of the heuristic artistic method, but is not always suitable as a remedy for poorly functioning science. The intended collisions, like deconstruction, are crucial ingredients for artistic social engagement. This engagement should not be confused with social work; in the given examples, it is expressed as cultural activism or as a commentary on technology or society. The cultural activist or artistic hacker is affiliated with the empowerment of the user/consumer.
Contemporary art and technology practice shows elements of the intended collision approach in artistic research where the artist is the researcher who investigates the imperfection of technology as a source of inspiration for hyper-real experiences. The repurposing of technology as a crucial part of the colliding method includes surprises or unpredictable outcomes, which indicates that this is mainly an artistic research trajectory. Wilson has also observed this; he suggests that artists could set additional topics for the research agendas, in fields overlooked by industry or academia. This implies a meta-research trajectory in the research landscape: one reads about opportunities for artists exploring new application fields or re-purposing existing research and development trajectories which could turn into interesting artworks and/or be catalysts for new scientific research.
