Cybernetics & Human Knowing

Brazilian architect, artist, and educator Ana Botelho is this issue's featured artist. Her work reflects Arthur Danto’s idea that the historical concept of art is dead, shifting from representation to expression, and aligns with Niklas Luhmann’s system theory, highlighting the evolving communication within the art subsystem and its interaction with other societal systems. Botelho’s art requires neither reaction nor perception but engages a cognitive process, embodying the transition Danto describes.
Botelho’s art fragments and isolates prints of historical paintings, creating a dialogue with other elements and blending historical silhouettes with contemporary perspectives. By transposing these images to film and using various media, her work transforms into objects of representation, expression, and revelation, exposing the pain hidden within beauty and offering a sense of liberation.
Both Danto’s and Botelho’s ideas align with Luhmann’s notion of functional differentiation. Art has evolved into a distinct subsystem with its own logic and criteria, emphasizing cognitive processes over sensory experiences. Botelho’s art illustrates Luhmann’s concept of re-entry, where elements from one subsystem are reintroduced into another, creating new forms of communication.
In addition to showcasing Botelho’s innovative work, we present an insightful curatorial statement by her life and business partner, Roberto Villavicencio Grossmann. This statement delves into the themes and processes of Botelho’s latest exhibition, offering a deeper understanding of her artistic journey and the significance of her work.