The Cloud and the Clouds: Cat. Musem Für Gegenwartskunst Siegen

Clouds--without us being aware of it--have an elementary significance for us. We inscribe our wishes, hopes, and fears into their fleeting, indeterminate diversity. The artistic "discovery" of the cloud began in the Middle Ages and intensified in the 19th century, parallel to its growing importance in the natural sciences and humanities. In the context of globalisation, virtualisation, and 20th century theory, the cloud is now developing into a model for describing the complexity of contemporary conditions. It is becoming a symbol of networked information architecture, geopolitical relations, and new concepts of space. The book deals with the phenomenon of the cloud from a contemporary perspective; it goes much further than the customary cloud images. Using a variety of media, the contributions range from artistic translations of the natural motif to the technical infrastructure of the clouds and their affects. The works presented combine ecological, socio-political, economic, and technological aspects. The focus is on exploring the various perceptions, materialities, and functions of the cloud(s) today.