Understanding Material vs. Immaterial in Conceptual and Digital Art

In the history of twentieth-century art, we can identify two key moments when notion immaterial became a focus attention. The first, spanning period from mid-1960s to mid-1970s, was dematerialization art object in context conceptual famously described Lucy Lippard's Six Years: Dematerialization Art Object 1966 1972. second digital which likewise emerged 1960s, foregrounding use technological means produce artworks. Yet both cases, claim immateriality unfounded. Building on accumulating evidence, conference “Conceptualism and Materiality. Matters Politics” held at Courtauld Institute London 2019 drew attention importance materials materiality countering its reputation as idea-centred. As for it has become increasingly obvious that infrastructure tools required maintain are firmly grounded physical world, thereby challenging alleged immateriality.
 first part this essay explores aftermath while highlights analogous developments taking place art. My aim will be shed light these shifts material back again map their similarities differences. I show, tried – failed satisfy art's recurring but unrealizable yearning rid itself material.