//the_ART_of_DATA
April 24 – July 6, 2014 @ BMoCA

With the increasing ubiquity of sensors, signals and connected devices that surround us, what it means to be human has undoubtedly shifted. These technological advances have stimulated both an unprecedented wealth of opportunity and new anxieties about privacy and identity, as everything about an individual can be measured, quantified, analyzed and nearly permanently stored.

The exhibition presents the work of artists who are pioneers in developing the visual language that makes data captivating, expressive and meaningful. Exhibiting artists include: R. Luke DuBois, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Manfred Mohr, Tristan Perich, Casey Reas, John F. Simon, Thomson & Craighead, Siebren Versteeg, and Addie Wagenknecht. These artists follow in the tradition of filmmakers, photographers, and pop artists who embraced new technology throughout the 20th century, exploring the intersection of commercialism and art. The works presented take us beyond literal data visualization (a staple of science, business, and journalism) to help us see the unexpected in data, to gain a sense for its cultural meaning, and make the otherwise abstract into an emotional experience. We are reminded of the power of the artist to help us understand a new world, and the reliability of new technologies to lead to disruptive and exciting advancements in art.

Curated by Steven Sacks (Founder of bitforms gallery nyc)
Essay written by Peter Hirshberg (Chairman of Re:imagine group and Co-Founder of Gray Area Foundation for the Arts)