Mel Bochner. 3 Ideas and 7 Procedures (Theory of Arithmetic), Sheet #2. Proposal for MoMA ...
moma.org
Mel Bochner's 1971 MoMA proposal turns arithmetic itself into art — raising the question of whether a system of rules can be its own subject matter.
Conceptual ArtFormalismPhilosophy of MathematicsSelf-Reference
Theory Briefing
- Bochner's 1971 MoMA proposal uses felt-tip pen, pencil, and masking tape to present arithmetic as a visual and conceptual object, not a tool.
- The work frames mathematical procedures as ideas in their own right, blurring the line between art and logical notation.
- By titling the piece 'Theory of Arithmetic,' Bochner invites viewers to question whether abstract systems carry aesthetic or philosophical meaning.