The Shape of Dust

Rohr, Doris (2023) The Shape of Dust. In: Pattern and Chaos in Art, Science and Everyday Life. Intellect, Bristol, pp. 271-278. ISBN 9781789387803

Text (Chapter PDF) Final The_Shape_of_Dust_P. 6, Ch. 37 Rohr .pdf - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (1MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

The text explores the metaphorical dimension of dust in view of re-assessing John Ruskin's ‘The Ethics of the Dust’ (Works of John Ruskin, ed. E.T. Cook and A. Wedderburn. Vol 18.) The interpretation of Ruskin's text applies Bruno Latour's concept of quasi-object, arguing that the concept of dust is no neutral term and that its cultural implications are frequently simultaneously positively and negatively loaded. Contemporary perspectives are provided through Ortero-Pailos 'reinterpretation of Ruskin's text as art installation and simultaneous conservation project 'The Ethics of Dust: Westminster Hall' (2016). Ruskin asks questions of value, as exemplified in alchemical terms: coal, carbon, diamond. Such material interrogations remain of relevance to 20th century and contemporary art and literature, as is demonstrated through selected examples of artwork by Duchamp, Rauschenberg, and more recently Rohr's own drawings as well as Johanna Love's drawings and laser cuts (2019) of dust remaining from 'Operation Gomorrah' (1943 Hamburg Air raids). Dust becomes an agent of change and entropic witness of history.

Item Type:	Book Section
Keywords:	Art techniques & principles Art and Science, Pattern ART Subjects & Themes PHILOSOPHY Critical Theory
Faculty / Department:	Faculty of Creative Arts & Humanities > School of Creative and Performing Arts
Depositing User:	Doris Rohr
Date Deposited:	16 Apr 2024 10:53
Last Modified:	16 Apr 2024 10:53
URI:	https://hira.hope.ac.uk/id/eprint/4182

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