Science Art through the Prism of Boundary-work

Abstract

This article analyzes the relationship between scientific and artistic aspects in such a field of contemporary art as science art. Representatives of presentday art often postulate the harmony of rational-scientific and artistic-aesthetic fields in the art of science art. The criteria for such harmony and the criteria for equality of scientific and artistic elements are not very clear. Viewers often tend to see in the works of science art to a greater extent either a product of scientific activity, or, conversely, an artistic object. The ideas of the so-called “pure science”, which is absolutely impartial and strives only for the knowledge of the truth, are becoming a thing of the past. The main incentive for the development of science is the satisfaction of various social needs, which can be articulated to varying degrees. The approach called boundary-work makes it possible to understand that the boundaries between these aspects, on the one hand, are very mobile and flexible, on the other hand, they act as social structures built with certain goals. Thomas F. Gerin also used the term boundary-work to distinguish between scientific, unscientific, in a different sense scientific, and so on. Such a distinction is necessary when, for one reason or another, borders are rejected or, conversely, arbitrarily imposed and propagandized. Each time the boundaries of science are established anew, depending on the political and cultural context that defines the essentialist or constructivist understanding of scientific activity. Science art Science art clearly goes beyond both science and art, forming a kind of third field. The existence on the border creates openness not only for science and art, but also for other forms of consciousness. The analyzed field of art makes it possible to reveal the hidden connections between science and art and to assert that, apparently, we are now witnessing the emergence of a certain new type of activity that carries the features of both science and art. In addition, there is hope that science art will help deepen our understanding of both science and art, their essence and their role in human life and social reality, in human creativity and personal development.