On the Second Decade of Holography as Art and My Recent Holograms

Some implications for visual art that persist from the first to the second decade of holography and some recent ones are discussed. This updates an article by the author in Leonardo in 1973. A short discussion of hologram types currently in use is given. Mention of individual artists from various traditional art disciplines now using holography is made to indicate the need for a critique. There is a discussion of the position of artists in the context of prevalent commercial activity in holography.

Attitudes towards issues raised by holographic art are described, such as those of technical excellence and of the ‘master concept’ in which artworks are intended to fit into a hierarchy of quality. Examples are given of the author’s holograms combined with other media, of narrative and political types and of those in which an integrative function is demonstrated and used as a theme. Some of her multicolour rainbow holograms are also described. A connection made between holography and Australian Aboriginal painting indicates an influence on her work of the Australian environment.