Dissertation thesis (written part), 2018

Author: Mgr.art. Diana Cencer Garafová

Guarantor: prof. Daniel Fischer, akad. mal.

Consultant: prof. RNDr. Vladimír Bužek, DrSc.

My dissertation deals with the reality-model relationship and the viewer’s position within it. I am referring to the fact that knowledge (about the world) is based on models. The simplification (of the world) via models helps us to grasp complex reality – e.g. physical theories can be interpreted as models of the world, but they do not represent reality as it is, but as we mind it to be. Even though these theories are verified by scientific experiments, the examined phenomena are isolated from reality because they occur in artificially created conditions, conditions which do not exist in reality – much like my ideas embodied in material 3D models.

The theme of this work was inspired by questions about the nature of the reality – It from bit (J.A. Wheeler) – whether the world is recognizable, whether there is an objective world beyond our observation, and what is the role of language within it, etc. These questions resulted in both parts of my work (written and artistic) exploring the relationship between it and bit – on the one hand stands the idea / concept / information on the other is matter / shape / form. During my research, I relied on relevant outputs from both physics and philosophy, which I have taken my stance on – in both, art and writing.

At the end of my study I have come to the conclusion that it and bit cannot exist without one another because they need and depend on one another. The complete knowledge of reality is not possible because we cannot observe it without being part of it. Furthermore, every attempt towards objectivity is premature because the subjective experience is associated with each and every one of our (previous) observations.