Towards a visual taxonomy in Mixed Reality Art

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to discuss possible indexical methods that might be applied to the variety of techniques and processes commonly used in New Media Art. A key part in this undertaking has been the development of a 'visual taxonomy for New Media Art', which it is hoped will contribute to the defining of prevalent forms and trends within the genre. The proposed visual taxonomy can be examined from both a conceptual, and practice based context. Framing a description of New Media in the context of a creative activity that foregrounds the viewers experience, rather than a technologically described model, and is intended to be of interest to artists, researchers, historians, art curators and the art going community. I will begin with a short definition of New Media Art and the taxonomic concept, followed by an investigation of related indexical examples. I will then step through the objectives of the taxonomy, concluding with a look at the prototype model and how this has been applied to existing New Media Art case studies through a process of data collection and dynamic visualisation.