A History of Solar Power Art and Design

This book examines the history of creative applications of photovoltaic (PV) solar power, including sound art, wearable technology, public art, industrial design, digital media, building integrated design, and many others. The growth in artists and designers incorporating solar power into their work reflects broader social, economic, and political events. As the cost of PV cells has come down, they have become more accessible and have found their way into a growing range of design applications and artistic practices. As climate change continues to transform our environment and becomes a greater public concern, the importance of integrating sustainable energy technologies into our culture grows as well. The book will be of interest to scholars working in art history, design history, design studies, environmental studies, environmental humanities, and sustainable energy design.

Alex Nathanson is a multimedia artist, A/V engineer, technologist, and educator whose work is focused on both the experimental and practical applications of sustainable energy technologies. He received a M.S. in Integrated Digital Media from NYU Tandon School of Engineering in 2019.

Introduction. Part I 1. Solar Power in Context 2. Defining Photovoltaic Art and Design Part II 3. Early PV Design 4. Solar Art Comes Alive Part III 5. Textiles and Wearables 6. Sound Art 7. Building Integrated Photovoltaics 8. Sculpture and Installation 9. Product Integrated Photovoltaics 10. Additional Media and Future Directions