Tekne – Logia: An Art Exhibition

The title of my honors thesis is the title of my final art exhibition here at Alfred University, as an undergraduate student. Upon graduation, I will receive two degrees: a bachelor of fine arts in art and design, as well as a bachelor of arts in physics, with a concentration in theoretical physics. My educational curriculum has steered the course of my final art exhibition, and this thesis is primarily about why I have made the art pieces in this final show. I explore the human experience of nature, as well as identity in relation to technology. Also mentioned are personal opinions and philosophy surrounding the ways these experiences have evolved. Photos and videos of the exhibition are included below. I came to Alfred four years ago to study physics and art, and I leave my thesis here at Alfred hoping it will help readers understand why.

Art, Science, and Technology

The arts and sciences are deeply intertwined, yet they have been artificially teased apart as binaries in modern society1. In the male-dominated history of - and the present day - Western sciences, it is common to specialize within a certain field of study. Be that an aspect of the human body, or a set of natural forces within the universe, careers are often developed upon a niche aspect of a larger phenomenon. This process deconstructs a whole, the human body or the universe for example, into smaller parts. By examining only a single portion of a complex entity, we can understand in more depth and with more detail our one portion. With that being said, focusing on this singular aspect allows the original entity to become obscured and be ignored. Eventually we must refocus outward once more, or else our mind becomes myopic and closed to a greater perception. I believe that art is a reconstruction, a sum, and an alignment of these dissected parts. Art provides us a recompiled organization of studied pieces to put together a rediscovered version of a grander puzzle. Together, the arts and sciences produces invention, which is the origin of technology.

Etymologically, the word “technology” began as a combination of the two Proto-Indo- European words tec meaning to weave, and leg, meaning to speak.* The word then evolved to the combination of Greek words tehkne, an art, craft, or skill, and logia, a discourse, theory, or science.** Hence the name of my exhibition. I agree with Bandhu Dunham, who states that analytical consciousness and the high capacity for reasoning that humans possess are innate and essential humans traits; further, that these characteristics are not what separate us from other living beings, but what connects us. He defines technology fundamentally, as our use of this ability to reason and brainpower to harness the natural forces around us towards a desired end.*** One seemingly ubiquitous goal of humanity is survival. Through technology, we developed ways to survive upon the planet Earth. Now however, our civilization is dependent upon technology that is produced in an unsustainable fashion for the planet. We can not continue to function this way for much longer. I believe that the first step to reworking the enormous systems within our society toward a civilization that coexists with the natural world is the mental process of recombining the arts and sciences, such that we can use both the creativity and formal analysis that exists within the human consciousness to reconnect what has been taken apart and left isolated and incomplete.

Sculpture, Physics, and Light

In physics, the Universe consists broadly of two components: matter and energy.**** In this exhibition of work, the physical sculpture represents the matter, and the light, by way of electricity, depicts the energy. These components are combined, such that they create a singular work of art, as well as conversing with the other works in the room. Each piece has an underlying connection to theoretical physics, as well as a more visible association to the way humans interface with technology. The sculptural components are predominantly glass, which lends itself well to the themes discussed due to its strong presence in advanced technologies. Glass also acts as a transparent receptacle and lens in these works, which an effective way to combine light and tangible sculptures into a single piece of art. The types of lighting used in the work depend on the conceptual underpinning of the piece, however they are each powered by electricity, and provide the essence, intrinsic energy, and movement of the sculptural form. They also provide a direct connection to electrical technologies like video cameras, smartphones, and computers. For this exhibition, the entire room is curated so that there is no object or light source within the space that is not directly contributing to the work itself.

* Lian Zhu and Yogesh Goyal, "Art and science: Intersections of art and science through time and paths forward,” EMBO Reports Vol. 20, No. 2 (2019): https://doi.org/10.15252/embr.201847061.

** Harper Douglas, “Etymology of technology,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed April 23, 2024, https://www.etymonline.com/word/technology.

*** Bandhu Dunham, “Introduction to Kinetic Glass Sculpture” in Contemporary Lampworking Vol III, Third Edition. (US: Salusa Glassworks, 2020),

**** Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian, “What is the Universe Made of?”, https:// www.cfa.harvard.edu/big-questions/what-universe-made