The Aesthetic Message of Holography

The importance and value of holography as an art medium can be poorly substantiated by a superficial comparison with diversified aesthetic expressions from the past; this often has been done. However, any truly useful analysis of the unique aesthetic message of holography first has to deal with the medium itself and the investigation of its inherent autonomous structure. Holography really should be understood as a specific aesthetic expression of our times that opens us to a new perception of our philosophy of life. The author demonstrates some parameters of the autonomous structure of holography. The aesthetic message of the medium discussed in that way is distinguished by an immediate paradox: the holographic image appears to be a normal picture, but simultaneously the illusion of the image that normally would be expected is completely destroyed. Consequently, the traditional difference between image and reality in general is overcome and cancelled. Thus holography makes a radical break with geometric, perspective optics. At the same time, the predominant paradigm of objectivity as an illusion of reality is revealed.