Reflecting
Oil presents innovative reflections on crude oil, one of the most important fossil fuels characterising modern life:
On the one hand, oil functions as a fuel for unrestricted mobility and on the other, as a basis for shaping the material world,
thus laying the foundation for a ubiquitous petroculture.
Yet despite these profound repercussions on our existence,
crude oil is a substance we rarely encounter directly with our senses. This lack of contact is logical in view of its specific
properties (unusual odor, toxicity, etc.), but the question arises as to why this connection is not explicitly sought after
in the sciences.
Reflecting Oil is the result of different artistic research processes which entailed practical handling
and holistic observation of the raw substance in the context of petroculture. This mode of research focusing on sensory perception—such
as the differentiation of colors and smells, etc., and aesthetic and symbolic interpretation—provided findings on the levels
of multi-sensory and practical knowledge.
Drawing on a collaboration between art and science, such interdisciplinary
investigations into crude oil as the basis of our petromodernity can be vital for the necessary shift towards sustainable
energy cultures. A more comprehensive understanding and awareness of how oil and fossil fuels shape our lives can stimulate
the necessary cultural, social, and technological transformations towards a sustainable future.
Ernst
Logar, Department of Site-Specific Art, University of Applied Arts Vienna
BOOK PRESENTATION
Reflecting Oil was presented to the public on Thursday, June 3, 2025, at AIL – Angewandte Interdisciplinary
Lab, University of Applied Arts Vienna.
Ernst Logar, editor, research project lead and artist, University
of Applied Arts Vienna,
in conversation with
Alexander Damianisch, Head of Support Art and Research, University
of Applied Arts Vienna
