Formative Encounters: Laboratory Life and Artistic Practice
In recent years, the relationship between the arts and sciences has provoked a remarkable stir as it has been explored in books, lectures, exhibitions and conferences. Fundamental discussions have transpired, examining ‘art as science’ or ‘science as art’
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Andrea Glauser
In recent years, the relationship between the arts and
as instruments of cultural promotion, are generally
sciences has provoked a remarkable stir as it has been
justified by the argument that they provide artists
explored in books, lectures, exhibitions and confer-
with infrastructure, networking possibilities, and
ences. Fundamental discussions have transpired,
the chance of broadening their horizons through
examining Ôart as scienceÕ or Ôscience as artÕ, and
their personal presence in a foreign cultural context
particular constellations, such as Laurie AndersonÕs
(Behnke et al. 2008; Glauser 2009). In comparison to
residency at NASA, have been prominent subjects
programs that supply artists with rather classical stu-
in the media.1 The relationship between the arts and
dios abroad, whether situated in New York, Beijing,
sciences is fascinating because, although these fields
Paris, or Bangalore, residencies in scientific contexts
differ, they share several common features, in par-
are usually more specifically focused on encounters
ticular an orientation towards innovation. Artists and
and collaboration between actors with different
scientists are often seen as societyÕs creative core.
backgrounds. In view of this emphasis, programs that
From that viewpoint, considerations of artistic and
foster collaboration between artists and scientists
scientific practices are typically combined in the hope
are not only of vital interest to contemporary forms
of shifting boundaries of specific knowledge and of
of cultural policy. They are associated in a broader
producing a decisive Ôenlargement of the universe
sense with questions of new methods of knowledge
of human discourseÕ (Geertz 1993, p. 14). Signifi-
production, knowledge and innovation policies and
cantly, at the opening of the Institut de Recherche et
their implications for social differentiation.
Coordination Acoustique /Musique IRCAM in Paris
engineers as a Ôutopian marriage of fire and waterÕ
Combining heterogeneous knowledge in a post-industrial society
(Boulez 1986, p. 490).
A widely supported assertion in sociology states
in 1977, the composer and program director, Pierre Boulez, characterized the cooperation of artists and
that a decisive feature of contemporary society is its The interest in rapport between art and science
differentiation into a variety of cultural fields with
is also manifest in cultural policies. In the last few
each field, such as science or art, characterized by a
years, remarkable efforts have been made to bring
particular logic of its own while not being completely
artists, scientists, and engineers together and to
independent from the others. With the formation
foster collaborative work. These efforts have taken a
of different microcosms, experiences of foreignness
variety of forms. Besides the foundation of relatively
may multiply within societies (Amann & Hirschauer
stable institutes and academic study programs, col-
1997, p. 12). Functional differentiation invo
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