Lecture combines art and information
Brett Billings
Issue date: 3/5/10 Section: A&E
California-based sculptor Loren Madsen visited Lafayette this past week as the third of four guest artist speakers this academic year. His lecture, "Information as Art, Art as Information," focused on not only some of his work, but also that of other artists pursuing systems art. His presence is made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation and the work Professors Ed Kerns, Chun Wai Liew and Jim Toia.
At a reception lunch welcoming him, a student asked Madsen what motivated his artwork: "My immediate answer was anger," he said. The listeners were somewhat surprised by this answer, Madsen continued. "I get upset with an issue and I investigate that issue."
Madsen's work was exhibited at Lafayette in 2005 with the installation of 6,000,000,000 Monkeys, a piece that exhibited the human population explosion. Much of Madsen's sculpture has focused on the use of statistics to influence the art piece.
Madsen began by noting that art has been used for numerous ends: propaganda, various form of reportage and political means. He and the artists he spoke about, used art as a means to convey information.
Citing his own work, he mentioned that a viewer might not immediately understand the complete thought behind his sculptures, but when told the data that drives the piece, they can begin to better understand and comprehend the meaning and impact of his work.
It would seem the conversion from numbers to visual art may not match up. Madsen said this is inconsequential, but it's difficult to use aesthetics in mind. "I've never been able to find a balance between presenting the art form and the information."
When asked about the transitory nature of his work, Madsen said, "I'm working now on some pieces that have ended already so there'd be no mystery about the future." Some examples he listed included statistics such as medical issues, polio or smallpox, "So I don't have to worry about updating it…I hope."
At a reception lunch welcoming him, a student asked Madsen what motivated his artwork: "My immediate answer was anger," he said. The listeners were somewhat surprised by this answer, Madsen continued. "I get upset with an issue and I investigate that issue."
Madsen's work was exhibited at Lafayette in 2005 with the installation of 6,000,000,000 Monkeys, a piece that exhibited the human population explosion. Much of Madsen's sculpture has focused on the use of statistics to influence the art piece.
Madsen began by noting that art has been used for numerous ends: propaganda, various form of reportage and political means. He and the artists he spoke about, used art as a means to convey information.
Citing his own work, he mentioned that a viewer might not immediately understand the complete thought behind his sculptures, but when told the data that drives the piece, they can begin to better understand and comprehend the meaning and impact of his work.
It would seem the conversion from numbers to visual art may not match up. Madsen said this is inconsequential, but it's difficult to use aesthetics in mind. "I've never been able to find a balance between presenting the art form and the information."
When asked about the transitory nature of his work, Madsen said, "I'm working now on some pieces that have ended already so there'd be no mystery about the future." Some examples he listed included statistics such as medical issues, polio or smallpox, "So I don't have to worry about updating it…I hope."