FRANKFURT.- Forget what you thought you knew about art exhibitions. The DZ BANK Art Collection in Frankfurt is inviting visitors on a surprisingly playful yet deeply thought-provoking journey with its new show, "Cybernetics. Networked Systems." Far from a dry academic exercise, this exhibition serves as a vibrant "intermezzo," perfectly capturing the institution's commitment to exploring the fascinating connections between art, science, nature, and human experience.

At its heart, "Cybernetics" delves into the concept of cybernetics itself: the study of communication and control in complex systems, whether living organisms or machines. Imagine the intricate dance of information that allows a plant to grow, a computer to function, or a community to thrive. This exhibition explores how artists, much like scientists, observe these natural processes and translate them into a visual language, constantly searching for universal structures and communication principles.

"It's about understanding how everything is connected," explains a spokesperson for the DZ BANK Art Collection. "We're looking back at historical ideas about systems and pushing them forward, asking how they resonate in our world today."

Four Pathways to Understanding

The exhibition, drawn entirely from the rich DZ BANK Collection, is thoughtfully organized into four compelling sections:

• Perception and Language: How do we communicate, and how do these exchanges form complex systems in themselves? Artists explore the nuances of human interaction and understanding.

• Human and Computer: A look at our evolving dialogue with machines, from early computing concepts to the digital age, and the systems that govern these interactions.

• Self-Organized Systems: Turning to nature and the environment, this section reveals the inherent order and interconnectedness found in the natural world, often without direct human intervention.

• Social Systems: Perhaps the most introspective section, this invites viewers to consider how societies function, how we perceive ourselves within them, and how these collective structures are constantly in flux.

Artists as "Second-Order Cyberneticists"

The exhibition posits that art isn't just a reflection of society; it's an active, complex system born from it. Artists, in this view, are not merely creators but keen observers and investigators, often collaborating with experts from other fields to develop new techniques and insights.

"When artists dedicate themselves to socially relevant developments, they literally 'grasp' these themes through their work," the exhibition notes. This innate curiosity and drive for new understanding is what links them to scientists, who are equally driven by the pursuit of fresh insights and alternative methods.

"How does science begin? With a formula? An experiment? A mistake? Or perhaps with wonder?" the exhibition prompts. Similarly, artists are constantly observing the myriad interwoven connections around them, and often, they turn that same critical gaze inward, examining their own processes and perceptions. This act of self-reflection and analysis, the exhibition suggests, transforms artworks into systems and artists into "second-order cyberneticists" – those who study systems that study themselves.

Ultimately, "Cybernetics. Networked Systems" isn't just a collection of art; it's an invitation. Just as the artists observe the intricate web of existence, visitors are encouraged to become active observers themselves, becoming an integral part of this fascinating and complex system of art. It's a chance to see the world, and ourselves, through a fresh, interconnected lens.