Investigating the experimental
Office of Experiments investigate landscapes of science and technology using and developing experimental fieldwork approaches that reflect critically on their subject. The experimental is both subject and process as we draw on knowledge from a wide field of sources and develop projects that cover a wide range of outcomes. Frequently the investigation is grounded in technological insights derived from different disciplines that share common concerns around issues of power and visibility whilst drawing on the role of artistic ‘research’ developed in an academic context. This work has developed from post-conceptual forms of art, in relation to instituent practice and and incidental practices in particular, whilst engaging with critical discourses concerning applications of technology and science.
Image; Office of Experiments, at Camden Roundhouse. 2006
Initial / Incidental Conditions
Office of Experiments was established in 2004 during a project to build an ecological space exploration platform, that was realised in collaboration with N55, and commissioned by Arts Catalyst. The founding principles were based on artistic, philosophical and historical concepts (including temporal inquiry) first in art, then later by examining how art can create epistemic things or epistemic events, that is, approaches to knowledge through art.
We developed this approach as a form of incidental practice through visual methods, fieldwork, mapping, data, and through the use of software tools from other disciplines. Developing the experimental as a concept that extends beyond the studio, at a scale of 1:1 (Rheinberger) we focused on the experiment as an event structure.
An incidental person, is a term developed by Artist Placement Group (1966-89) and John Latham, and refers to making work in context, art that has a relationship to society. Office of Experiments developed through dialogue with Latham and these ideas, and now we refer to our collective approach as an incidental practice. In this language, incidental practice refers to art becoming incidental to the world beyond art, whilst contributing to art itself.
Office of Experiments and Neal White advised and supported the archival process at John Lathams (1922-2006) former home, Flat Time House in 2007. Neal White then became a Director of O+I (formerly APG) between 2006-9, and worked with Barbara Steveni up to her passing in 2020. Neal White has restaged the work of Latham, exhibited with him (Portikus , Frankfurt 2014) and is a founding member of the Incidental Unit.
For a more detailed and academically focussed interview on Office of Experiments, read Jussi Parikka’s website here:
Where do Experiments End?
Between 2008-12, Office of Experiments went from building platforms (Space on Earth Station) , to developing our fieldwork investigations, using digital archives research and mapping through a process that was open and transparent, unlike our subject, the techno-scientific and military industrial complex. It was in intention and form, a collective approach that was incidental.
We developed our fieldwork approach with International artist and photographer Steve Rowell (Associate, USA Office) whilst he was a programme manager at Center for Land Use Interpretation (USA). During this period, critical and online development was integrated by programmer and activist, Lisa Haskel (Associate, London). Further support and insights came from Professor Gail Davies (Associate, UCL now Exeter University), as well as autonomous research activist Mike Kenner ( Honorary Associate).
From 2012 we explored further the scientific sites and infrastructures of the UK and USA, leading research being undertaken by artists, and interdisciplinary practifioners in the academic sphere. In this period, the research focussed on dislocated resources, infrastructures, and data from financial trading networks, communications and science to art, as installation / sculptural projects. Translating open source data, collected from global and remote sensors, new methods, approaches and concepts relating to audio, frequency and light driven work were developed, underpinned by custom designed and engineered technologies.
Since 2016, Office of Experiments focus was to see if the approach we have developed could be grounded in a University context. Since, 2020, we support graduate research at The Deep Field Project and have begun working with Professor John Beck, who has been a close colleague on projects and fieldwork whilst based at the University of Westminster.
“Where do experiments end?’ is a reference to an article in Geoforum written by Gail Davis concerning some of our Bus tours.
Image; Office of Experiments, at Center for Land Use Interpretation. 2008