Bern Porter
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Bern Porter
Bern Porter (1911-2004) was an American artist, writer, and scientist who made significant contributions to various fields throughout his life. He was born in Maine and received a degree in physics from Colby College, after which he worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II. However, Porter became disillusioned with the military application of science and turned to art and writing as a means of expressing his creativity and political views. As an artist, Porter was known for his innovative use of found objects and materials, which he transformed into works of art that challenged traditional notions of beauty and value. He was also a pioneer in the field of video art, creating experimental films that explored the relationship between image and sound. Porter was a key figure in the development of mail art, a movement that used the postal system as a means of distributing art and ideas outside of traditional gallery spaces. In addition to his artistic pursuits, Porter was a prolific writer and published numerous books and articles on a wide range of topics, including science, politics, and philosophy. He was particularly interested in the intersection of art and science, and his work often explored the ways in which these two fields could inform and enrich each other. Throughout his life, Porter remained committed to the idea that art and creativity could be powerful tools for social and political change. He was a vocal critic of war, capitalism, and environmental destruction, and his work often reflected his deep concern for the future of humanity and the planet.
artist, writer, scientist, video art, mail art
Bern Porter
Bern Porter (1911 – 2004) was an American artist renowned for his pioneering exploration of installation and video art, and for his creative use of discarded and found objects to produce ‘readymades’. He was also influential in the development of sound poetry, mail art and visual poetry. His well-known works include the Pillow Poem series, the 1952 installation piece Camouflage and the film Notes on the Port of St. Francis. Porter was known to be an advocate of reclaiming discarded objects in the form of art, and promoted the idea that everyday objects could be used to represent aesthetic and emotional power.
Readymades, installation art, visual poetry, sound poetry, mail art.
— Mei Wang
Bern Porter on Design+Encyclopedia
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