'Reflecting Oil' presents innovative, artistic reflections on crude oil, one of the most important fossil fuels characterising modern life. On the one hand, oil functions as a fuel for unrestricted mobility and on the other, as a basis for shaping the material world, thus laying the foundation for a ubiquitous petroculture. This book is the result of different artistic research processes which entailed practical handling and holistic observation of the raw substance in the context of petroculture. Using a mode of research that focuses on sensory perception—such as the differentiation of colours and smells, etc., and aesthetic and symbolic interpretation—the editors present findings on the levels of multi-sensory and practical knowledge. Drawing on a collaboration between art and science, such interdisciplinary investigations into crude oil as the basis of our petromodernity can be vital for the necessary shift towards sustainable energy cultures. A more comprehensive understanding and awareness of how oil and fossil fuels shape our lives can stimulate the necessary cultural, social, and technological transformations towards a sustainable future.
