The main objective of w/k is to capture as accurately as possible the diversity of individual connections between science and the visual arts – compare the impulse lecture on w/k.
If one starts with the artists (the artists are always to be taken into consideration; this also applies to all comparable formulations) as individuals, then there are exactly three basic types or basic forms of such a connection, which then permit an infinite number of variations: the first basic form are those individuals who work both scientifically and artistically – we call them border crossers between both areas. The second basic form are artists who base their work on theories/methods/results of this or that science, but who do not independently research and publish scientifically: the science-related artists. The third basic form is cooperation between at least one artist and at least one scientist within the framework of a specific project.
Most science-art connections are science-related artists, but it also happens that two or even all three basic forms can be found in an artist – there are some border crossers who base their artistic work on scientific theories/methods/results and cooperate with scientists in certain projects.
In relation to the three basic forms, the w/k editors have formulated specific questions that are to be answered by a contribution. These general questions are then always supplemented by special questions that are tailored to the particularities of the respective person. The general questions are presented below. The editorial staff expects them to be more precise on the one hand and to be supplemented by further questions on the other. The w/k users are asked to refer to such possibilities in comments to this article. If a proposal convinces the editorial staff, it will be directly implemented in the text. This is in principle a process of continuous improvement.
The questionnaire for science-related artists
- Which science is or is relevant for your artistic work?
- Which theories/methods/results of these sciences do you refer to in your artistic activity?
- How did the scientific contact develop with you?
- What artistic goals do you pursue in your engagement with science(s)?
The catalogue of questions for border crossers between science and the visual arts
- How can your scientific work be briefly presented in a generally understandable way?
- What is the relationship between your scientific work and your artistic work? What connections or interactions are there between the two areas?
- Has artistic activity in some cases favoured the production of a scientific theory – and/or vice versa?
- How has the connection between science and the visual arts developed in you? What were the most important phases of development?
- What artistic goals do you pursue as a border crosser?
The Question Catalogues for Cooperation between Science and (Fine) Art
The current state of knowledge distinguishes four forms of cooperation, to each of which specific questions relate; there may be others.
1. At least one artist works with at least one scientist – and in this context more often with technicians and companies – in order to gain new materials for their own artistic work. Then one has to ask:
- What is the artist concerned about?
- What does the collaboration look like in concrete terms, and how has it developed?
- What artistic results has this cooperation led to?
2. At least one artist takes part in a scientific research project:
- What is this research project about?
- What artistic or art-related activities are planned in this project, and what tasks do they fulfil?
3. At least one scientist participates in an artistic design project:
- What is this design project about?
- What scientific or scientific activities are planned in this project, and what tasks do they fulfil?
4. Innovative connections between science and (visual) art: Some try to combine artistic working methods with scientific ones in such a way that a special kind of new knowledge is generated:
- What is this project about?
- What artistic or art-related activities are envisaged in this project and what are their tasks?
- What scientific or scientific activities are foreseen in this project and what are their tasks?
- How do artistic and scientific activities work?
In w/k, positions of artistic research can also be presented and examined:
The catalogue of questions for artistic researchers
- What do you mean by artistic research?
- Do you rely on certain theoretical approaches to artistic research and, if so, on which ones?
- How have you developed contact with concepts of artistic research?
- What artistic and/or scientific goals do you pursue in your orientation towards concepts of artistic research?
The striving for novel connections between science and (visual) art mentioned above can also be found in approaches to artistic research.
How to cite this article
Till Bödeker (2018): w/k-Questions. w/k–Between Science & Art Journal. https://doi.org/10.55597/e3369