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An innovative history of heartbeats, pulse, and technoscience in the works of a wide international array of artists and composers. Technoscientific advances in monitoring heartbeats and pulses in the nineteenth century--such as René Laennec's stethoscope, Étienne-Jules Marey's sphygmograph and chronophotograph, and Willem Einthoven's electrocardiograph--transformed the movements of the heart into audible and visual representations. Artists saw in the language of these scientific technologies a way of mingling the inner with the outer, the physical with the technological, and data with flesh. Using archival research, interviews, and correspondence, Arozqueta describes significant works in detail, discusses their contexts and development, and examines the larger classes and contours of this neglected area of artistic activity. Other artists in the volume include Éliane Radigue, Jean Dupuy, Linda Montano, Catherine Richards, Diana Domingues, Mona Hatoum, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, and Christian Boltanski.
List of contents
Series Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1 Measuring
Feeling Pulses: Indian, Chinese, Egyptian, Greek Medicine
Listening Heartbeats: René Laennec’s Stethoscope
Graphing Heartbeats: Étienne-Jules Marey’s Machines
Electrical Heartbeats: Willem Einthoven’s Electrocardiogram
2 Space
Spatial Data: Laika, Moon Landing
Golden Record: Ann Druyan, Sci-Fi Films, Pulsing Stars
Beat Music: Sun Ra, Milford Graves, Pink Floyd, Kraftwerk
Moon Bounces: Pauline Oliveros, Alvin Lucier.
Universe’s Vibrating Symphony: Éliane Radigue
3 Electrical
Vibrating Lines: Heinz Mack
The Visual Energy of Heartbeats: Jean Dupuy
Son Et Lumière: Mark Boyle, Joan Hills
Electro-Trances: Diana Domingues
4 Time
Timing Pulses: Allan Kaprow
Heartbeat Time: Julieta Aranda
The Vitality of Spaces: Sasaki
5 Transplants
Self-Transplants: Brian O’Doherty
Co-Mingle: Catherine Richards
6 Surveillance
Body Information: Teresa Burga
Intrusions: Mona Hatoum
Biometrics: Rafael Lozano-Hemmer
7 Regeneration
Getting Closer: Yoko Ono
Heart Endurance: Linda Montano
(Im)Permanence: Christina Boltanski
Conclusion
Notes
Index
About the author
Claudia Arozqueta is an interdisciplinary historian, curator, and writer whose work has appeared in publications such as
Leonardo,
Artforum,
e-flux Criticism, and others. She has curated various exhibitions for international art organizations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.
