John Lifton
Encyclopedia
John Lifton is an artist and theorist whose work explores the relationships between art, science, the environment and technology. He was a founder of both the London New Arts Lab (1968), which focused on film and video art
, and the Institute for Research in Art and Technology
(IRAT) as dissident alternatives to the original Arts Lab
(London). The latter became a center for film, video, sculpture, experimental literature and avante-garde arts-science/arts-technology crossovers. In the 1970s, Lifton moved to the Rocky Mountains and in 1977 he co-founded the Telluride Institute.
Video art
Video art is a type of art which relies on moving pictures and comprises video and/or audio data. . Video art came into existence during the 1960s and 1970s, is still widely practiced and has given rise to the widespread use of video installations...
, and the Institute for Research in Art and Technology
Institute for Research in Art and Technology
The Institute for Research in Art and Technology was founded in London in 1969 by arts theorist John Lifton as an offshoot of the London New Arts Lab, itself a breakaway from the original Arts Lab. Its early focus was on video and film, but this was subsequently expanded to include experimental...
(IRAT) as dissident alternatives to the original Arts Lab
Arts Lab
The Arts Lab was an alternative arts centre, founded in 1967 by Jim Haynes at 182 Drury Lane. Although only active for two years, it was influential in inspiring many similar centres in the UK and continental Europe, including the expanded I.C.A...
(London). The latter became a center for film, video, sculpture, experimental literature and avante-garde arts-science/arts-technology crossovers. In the 1970s, Lifton moved to the Rocky Mountains and in 1977 he co-founded the Telluride Institute.
Selected external links
- Composing in the Information Age Whole Earth Review, Fall 1992 (by Chris Meyer).
- "Green Music" (1976). Article in Psychobotany.
- Collaboration with Richard Lowenberg in "Secret Life of Plants" (1976).
- Telluride Institute website
- Role in helping found the Institute for Research and Art and Technology and the New Arts Lab in "A History of Artists' Film and Video in Britain." Central St. Martin's College of Art and Design, London.
- Collaboration in founding the New Arts Lab and IRAT as a dissident alternative to the Covent Garden Arts Lab. In a discussion of J.G. Ballard's "Crashed Cars" exhibition (1970) by Simon Ford
- Biographical sketch in "Encyclopedia of Life" Symposium (2004).