“Art in the Solar Age: Some Regards on Visual Arts in the Solar Age” presented by Claus
Symposium:
Presentation Title:
- Art in the Solar Age: Some Regards on Visual Arts in the Solar Age
Presenter(s):
Abstract:
A paper in three sections:
I. THE BIOSPHERE INTERFACE
II. MIRRORS OF THE SUN
III. FROM PLANET OCEAN TO SOLART SCULPTURESI. THE BIOSPHERE INTERFACE
The quest for a Solar Age is defined by a general change in ecological consciousness, by declining resources of non-renewable energies, by the extreme increase in global and local pollution, by a strong demand for decentralization in political as well as energy decisions, by the rising demand of the underpriviledged three quarters of the world to participate in a higher quality of living. This quest for change cannot be based on traditional, non-renewable energies. The Solar Age in this respect is defined by a new policy of installing and using technologies that harvest the sun’s radiation in a more direct way. But: All plans for reforming our energy situation must be put into practice now, to be fully effective in 2025. (I just focus on the first quarter of the next millenium.)
The estimated 10 Billion people in 2025 cannot live a human life on our present Western standards of energy consumption. This is far more than a technical problem and this is why I am talking about a new definition of art in the and for the Solar Age. A loosly connected group of artists today are fully aware of the necessary changes in contributing to new solutions, new materials and new strategies for an Art in the Solar Age. The aim of Solart Global Network which I?m preparing for 1995, is to bring some of these artist together in working with outdoor solar artworks. These might be outdoor holograms, light work depending on direct use of solar power, reflection of Sun light etc.
Highlights of this Solar Festival are positioned on different parts of the Planet in July and August 1995. Every artist works in her/his own autonomy, sharing a common catalogue and a common film & video documentation of the events. Exhibitions are planned to show the resulting art works and their documentation. Network, for me, means a value-oriented networking of people who share the same vision of the Solar Age. Technology is used at the most advanced level but only to strengthen the underlying values of a critical and creative redefinition of art in the Biosphere.
