Six Years: The Dematerialization of the Art Object from 1966 to 1972 by Lucy Lippard

Lucy Lippard’s book Six Years: The Dematerialization of the Art Object from 1966 to 1972 was a seminal publication that had a significant influence on contemporary generative art. Lippard’s book chronicled the emerging conceptual art movement, emphasizing the importance of ideas and processes over traditional art objects. Her focus on the dematerialization of art and the emphasis on concepts, systems and participation laid the foundation for generative art’s exploration of algorithmic and rule-based processes. In particular, the notion of a dematerialized art object has been critical to the contemporary understanding of art and its connection to the blockchain and NFTs. These instruments enable digital ownership. Lippard’s book also encouraged artists to embrace new technologies and computational methods, leading to the development of generative art practices that prioritize dynamic, interactive, and generative systems. Six Years served as a catalyst for redefining artistic practice and expanding the possibilities of art beyond materiality, inspiring generations of generative artists to experiment with digital technologies and dynamic processes.