Information - MoMA

In 1970, the Museum of Modern Art opened their groundbreaking Information show, a survey of conceptual art addressing burgeoning technologies, data and surveillance, and social and political systems.

Documentation and visitor interaction were paramount to the show. Numerous artists performed actions that were later transformed into data, either textual, numerical, or photographic (often in the form of photo sequences). Other artists offered visitors instructions, such as Hans Haacke's Poll of MoMA Visitors which asked participants whether or not they would vote for a candidate who had not denounced the Vietnam War.

The full catalog of the show was recently re-released, containing documentation of the works and accompanying artist statements. The collection is so stimulating to scroll through, and many of the approaches taken still feel fresh and relevant from a contemporary perspective.