biography

 

PERSONAL:
Robert Francis Harle
Born: Sydney, Australia 1948
Married, no children.
Residence: Stoney Chute, northern NSW, Australia.
PO Box 182 Nimbin 2480 Australia.
Email: harle@dodo.com.au

STUDIES:
BA (Hons) Deakin University 1999-2000
BA Deakin University 1992-1998
Diploma Psychotherapy A.C.A.P. 1990-1991
Diploma Architecture I.C.S. 1973-1976
Poetry Certificate Course A.W.W.A. 1984
Professional Writer's Course A.W.P.S. 1978
Drawing Course TAFE 1970
Electrical Trades Course TAFE 1966-1968

EXPERIENCE:
Worked in building construction industry for three years (1966-69) before transferring to drawing office. Eleven years (1969-80) as draftsman and then designer in Sydney and the Central Coast NSW, with various consultants, manufacturing engineers and architects. During this time, apart from conventional building design carried out research into organic low-cost shelter design including geodesic domes and free-form ferro-cement structures.
Sculpting, drawing and studying art part-time, with the guidance of various professionals, since 1963. After exploring numerous materials and sculpting processes, a preference for spontaneous expression through "direct carving" in stone, clay and wood evolved, along with pencil and charcoal drawing.
Full-time intensive sculpture for ten years (1981-91). Completed works from this period were in wood, sandstone, terracotta and marble and varied in scale from small table pieces to large public commissions.
Member of Blavatsky Lodge of the Theosophical Society for 14 years (1965-79) involved in informal study of Eastern religions and mysticism.
Writing: Poetry, articles & experimental fiction since 1965 (see Publications).
Studied Religious Philosophy and Philosophy of Knowledge for six years (1992-1998).
Researching and writing Honours thesis (1999-2000).
Started PhD with University of Queensland (Mysticism & Neurophysiology) forced to withdraw after near fatal accident (2001).
Experimenting with digital images, writing poetry and academic papers (2002-2008).

AWARDS and HONOURS:
First Prize - Sculpture. Wyong Art Festival, 1988.
Membership of the Golden Key National Honour Society
(invitation on Academic merit only) 1997.
Selected with one other from the Arts Faculty for consideration
for Vice Chancellor’s Prize 1997. Essay: "Kant & Aquinas".


ARTWORK CITATIONS:

T.D.A. Magazines.
Sculpture Guild Newsletters.
Craft Arts Magazine.
Club News.
Various newspapers articles.
Children of the Dream, Photo Documentary
Architecture Show Journal.
Corporate and Office Design Journal.
Who's Who of Australian Visual Artists.

PUBLICATIONS:
Research Papers:
"The Dichotomy of Reality"
YLEM Journal. Harle, R. (Guest Editor) vol.27 Nos. 10 & 12 Sept/Dec 2007. Journal of YLEM Society, Artists Using Science & Technology. San Francisco, CA.
"The Gift of Dyslexia: Paintings by Leigh Arnold" Harle, R.F. 2007 Hyperseeing: Journal of The International Society for the Arts, Mathematics and Architecture. September 2007 http://www.isama.org/hyperseeing/
"Disembodied Consciousness & The Transcendence of the Limitations of the Biological Body"
Harle, R.F. 2007  Janus Head Journal. Special Issue - "Situated Body" (Winter 2006/07) Trivium Publications, New York.
"Virtual Therapy"
Harle, R.F. 2004. Hospital Development Journal, Dec 20 2004. Wilmington Publishing, UK.
"technoMetamorphosis and Art Practice"  Harle. R. F. 2003. Australian Network for Art and Technology, no. 54. September 2003.
"Cyborgs: Uploading & Immortality. Some Serious Concerns"
  Harle, R. F. 2001. Sophia International.  vol. 41 no.2 November 2002. Ashgate Publishers          
"Biobehavioural Basis of Art", Harle, R. F. 1999. (Library, Centre for Darwinism, University of Brazil.)
"DJI&FT30 - The Findings"
McMinn, D. & Harle, R. F. in, "Financial Crises & The 56 Year Cycle". McMinn, D. 1995.
"The 56 Year Cycle Additional Considerations"
McMinn, D. & Harle, R. F. in, The Australian Technical Analysts Association. May 1995.
"Mayoral ‘Think Tank’, Survey Design & Statistical Analysis
", for Lismore City Council 1993.


The following unpublished papers are available from this web site:

"
Superman, Joan of Arc and Jesus: Transgressive or Conventional Heroes?", Harle, R. F. 1998.
"Was Shakespeare an Existential Wimp?",
Harle, R. F. 1998. A discussion of the nature of human benevolence from
Shakespeare’s Christian ideological background.
"Christianity and Evolution: Is the Conflict Resolvable?",
Harle, R. F. 1997. A general discussion.
"Post-Reformation Hermeneutics",
Harle, R. F. 1996. General background and critical investigation.
"Kant & Aquinas: Regarding The Transcendence of Reason,
Harle, R.F. 1996.
"Condemned To Be Free",
Harle, R. F. 1994. An ontological investigation of Sartre’s concept of radical freedom.

"Artificial Intelligence", Harle, R. F. 1999.

Book
and Film Reviews:
"The Age of Spiritual Machines", Kurzweil, R. 1999. In Sophia International. Journal for philosophical theology, cross-cultural philosophy of religion and ethics.  Vol. 38 no.1, 1999..
”Isamu Noguchi and Modern Japanese Ceramics”, Cort, L.A. & Winther-Tamaki, B. 2003. In Leonardo Reviews, September 2003. 

"Exodesic: Structures, Tumbleweeds, Electronics”
, Dollens, D.L. 1999. In Leonardo Digital Reviews, September 2003.
”Memory and Dreams: The Creative Human Mind”, Christos, G. 2003. In Leonardo Digital Reviews, October 2003.
”12 Japanese Masters”, Kinser-Saki, M. 2002. In Leonardo Digital Reviews, October 2003.

Naturoids: On the Nature of the Artificial”, Negrotti, M. 2002. In Leonardo Digital Reviews, October 2003.
”The Imagined World Made Real: Towards A Natural Science of Culture”, Plotkin, H. 2002. In Leonardo Digital Reviews, October 2003.
"The Posthuman Condition: Consciousness Beyond The Brain", Pepperell, R. 2003. In Leonardo Reviews, November 2003.

"
Prefiguring Cyberculture: An Intellectual History", Tofts, D. et al. (eds.) 2002. In Leonardo Reviews, November 2003.
"Between Species: Celebrating the Dolphin-Human Bond" Frohoff, T. & Peterson, B. (eds.) In Leonardo Reviews, December, 2003.
"Masks of the Universe: Changing Ideas on the Nature of the Cosmos" Harrison, E. 2003. In Leonardo Reviews, January 2004.
"Genetic Architectures/Arquitecturas genetics" Estevez, A.T. et al 2003. In Leonardo Reviews, January 2004.
”Art, Not Chance: Nine Artists’ Diaries” Allen, P. (ed.) 2003. In Leonardo Reviews, February 2004.
”Digital Magazine Design” Honeywill, P. & Carpenter, D. 2003. In Leonardo Reviews, February 2004.
Intermedia: alteridem.exe” Sabau, G. et al. (eds.) 2003. In Leonardo Reviews, February 2004.

"Science, Not art: Ten Scientists' Diaries"  Turney, J. (ed.) 2003. In Leonardo Reviews, March 2004.
"Windows & Mirrors: Interaction Design, Digital Art and the Myth of Transparency"  Bolter, J.D. & Gromler, D. 2003.
In Leonardo Reviews, March 2004.
"Random Order: Robert Rauschenberg and the Neo-avant Garde" Joseph, B.W. 2003.
In Leonardo Reviews, April 2004.
"
Wenda Gu" Art from Middle Kingdom to Biological Millinneum" Bessire, M.H.C. (ed.) 2003.
In Leonardo Reviews, May 2004.
"
YLEM Journal. Artists Using Science & Technology" 2002.
In Leonardo Reviews, May 2004.
"HYLE: International Journal for Philosophy of Chemistry" Spector, T. & Schummer, J.
(eds.)
In Leonardo Reviews, June 2004.
"Biocosm: The New Scientific Theory of Evolution. Intelligent Life as the Architect of the Universe" 2003. Gardner, J.N.
In Leonardo Reviews, June 2004.
"Earthly Paradises: Ancient Gardens in History and Archaeology" Carroll, M. 2003. In Leonardo Reviews, July 2004.  
"Activity-Centered Design: An Ecological Approach to Designing Smart Tools and Usable Systems" 2004. Gay, G. & Hembrooke, H.
In Leonardo Reviews, August 2004.
"Memories Are Made of This: How Memory Works in Humans and Animals" 2002. Bourtchouladze, R. In Leonardo Reviews, September 2004.

"Digital Ground: Architecture, Pervasive Computing, and Environmental Knowing" 2004. McCullough, M. In Leonardo Reviews, October 2004. 
"Ideas That Shaped Buildings"
Hearn, F. In Leonardo Reviews, November 2004.
"Symmetry Comes of Age: The Role of Pattern in Culture" Washburn, D.K. & Crowe, D.W. (eds.) In Leonardo reviews, December 2004.
"Wild Reckoning: An Anthology Provoked by Rachel Carson's Silent Spring" Burnside, J. & Riordan, M. (eds.) In Leonardo Reviews, January 2005.
"Santiago Calatrava's Travels" Schaub, C. In Leonardo Reviews. March 2005.
"M.C. Escher: Visions of Symmetry" Schattschneider, D. In Leonardo Reviews, March 2005.
"Building Stata: The Design & Construction of Frank. O. Gehry's Stata Center at MIT" Joyce, N.E. In Leonardo Reviews, April 2005 
"Caging The Beast: A Theory of Sensory Consciousness" Droege, P. In Leonardo Reviews, June 2005.
"Psychosomatic: Feminism and the Neurological Body" Wilson, E.A. In Leonardo Reviews, June 2005.
"D.B. - A" Digital Botanic Architecture" Dollens, D. In Leonardo Reviews, June 2005.
"Dream Bridges-Traumbrucken" Ziesel, W. In Leonardo Reviews, June 2005.
"Masterworks of Technology: The Story of Creative Engineering, Architecture and Design" Lewis, E.E. In Leonardo Reviews, July 2005.
"The Nick of Time: Politics, Evolution and the Untimely" Grosz, E. In Leonardo Reviews, July 2005.
"Carnal Art: Orlan's Refacing" O'Bryan, C.J. In Leonardo Reviews, August 2005.
"Symmetry 2000: Part 1 and Part 2" Hargittai, I. & Laurent, T.C. In Leonardo Reviews, August 2005.
"Gehry Draws" Rappolt, M. & Violette, R. In Leonardo Reviews, September 2005.
"The Art of Setting Stones & Other Writings from the Japanese Garden"  Keane, M.P. In Leonardo Reviews, October 2005.
"Impossible Nature: The Art of Jon McCormack" McCormack, J et al. In Leonardo Reviews, December 2005.
"TCP/IP Essentials: A Lab-Based Approach" Panwar, S.S. et al.
In Leonardo Reviews, December 2005.
"Fantastic Reality, Louise Bourgeois and a Story of Modern Art" Nixon, M. In Leonardo Reviews, December 2005.
"Earth-Mapping: Artists Reshaping Landscape" Casey, E.S. In Leonardo Reviews, January 2006.
"Monte Grande - What Is Life?" by Franz Reichle, Director; featuring Francisco Varela and H.H. Tenzin Gyatso, XIV Dalai Lama In Leonardo Reviews, January 2006.
"Cybernetics & Human Knowing: A Journal of Second-order Cybernetics Autopoiesis and Cyber-Semiotics, Gregory Bateson. Essays for an Ecology of Ideas" Brier, S. Ed. In Leonardo Reviews, February 2006.
"Images Of A Complex World: The Art and Poetry of Chaos" Chapman, R. & Sprott, J.C. In Leonardo Reviews, February 2006.
"Journeys of a Sufi Musician" Erguner, K. Trans. Annette Courtenay Mayers In Leonardo Reviews, February 2006.
"Alice Aycock: Sculpture and Projects" Hobbs, R. In Leonardo Reviews, March 2006.
"Sex, Drugs, Einstein, & Elves: Sushi, Psychedelics, Parallel Universes, and the Quest for Transcendence" Pickover, C.A.
In Leonardo Reviews, March 2006.
"Painting the Digital River" Faure Walker, J. In Leonardo Reviews, May 2006. 
"Engineering Nature: Art & Consciousness in the Post-Biological Era" Ascott, R. Editor.
In Leonardo Reviews, May 2006.
"Cyberculture, Cyborgs and Science Fiction: Consciousness and the Posthuman" Haney II. W. S.
In Leonardo Reviews, May 2006.
"Mademoiselle and the Doctor"  Hosking. J. In Leonardo reviews, June 2006.
"The Prosthetic Impulse: From a Posthuman Present to a Biocultural Future" Smith, M. and Morra, J. Editors. In Leonardo reviews, July 2006.
"To Be Seen" Arnold, A. Director. In Leonardo reviews, July 2006.
"Creative 3-D Display and Interaction Interfaces: A Trans-Disciplinary Approach" Blundell, B.G. and Schwarz, A.J. In Leonardo Reviews, August 2006.
"Genes in Development: Re-reading the Molecular Paradigm" Neumann-Held, E. M. and Rehmann-Sutter, C. Editors. In Leonardo Reviews, September 2006.
"EXIT: The Right to Die" Melgar, F. In Leonardo Reviews, September 2006.
"Mediamatic Off-Line". Vol 11, No. 1 and No. 2 Groot, P. Editor. In Leonardo Reviews, October 2006.
"The Future of Digital Art: From Hellenistic to Hebraic Consciousness" Alexenberg, M.
In Leonardo Reviews, December 2006.
"YLEM" Journal. Artists Using Science & Technology" 2006. In Leonardo Reviews, January 2007.
"Inside Out" Shayesteh, Z. In Leonardo Reviews, February 2007
"Cutting Code: Software and Sociality" Mackenzie, A. In Leonardo Reviews, March 2007.
"Water Sound Images: The Creative Music of the Universe" Lauterwasser, A. In Leonardo Reviews, April 2007.
"Art: Key Contemporary Thinkers" Costello, D & Vickery, J (ed.) In Leonardo Reviews, May 2007
"YLEM" Journal. Artists Using Science & Technology" 2007. In Leonardo Reviews, May 2007.
"Tin Men" Green, A. In Leonardo Reviews, June 2007.
"Philosophical Counselling and the Unconscious" Raabe, Peter (ed.) In  http://metapsychology.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=de&id=3779     August, 2007.
"Art For A House Of Mathematics" Campbell Bliss, Anna In Leonardo Reviews, September 2007.
"The Big Fish: Consciousness as Structure, Body and Space" Bonshek, Anna. In Leonardo Reviews, September 2007.
"Forever" Honnigmann, Heddy.In Leonardo Reviews October, 2007.
"People with Hyperactivity: Understanding and Managing Their Problems" by Eric Taylor (Editor) Blackwell, 2007 Oct 30th 2007. (Volume 11, Issue 44) http://metapsychology.mentalhelp.net
"Science as A Spiritual Practice" Barušs, I. In Leonardo Reviews, November 2007
"Processing:  A Programming Handbook for Visual Designers" Reas, C. and Fry, B. In Leonardo Reviews, December 2007.
"Pentagonisme / Pentagonism" S M A Cahiers. Caris, G. In Leonardo Reviews, January 2008.
"Hidden Dimensions" Unification of Physics and Consciousness" Wallace, B.A.
At http://metapsychology.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=book&id=3964&cn=403 December 2007
"The Gold Leaf Lady and Other Parapsychological Investigations" Braude, S.E.
At http://metapsychology.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=book&id=4022&cn=139
"YLEM" Journal. Artists Using Science & Technology" 2007. In Leonardo Reviews, March 2008.
"When Walls Become Doorways: Creativity and the Transforming Illness"  Zausner, T. In Leonardo Reviews April 2008.
"The Future of Mud: A Tale of Houses and Lives in Djenne" Vogel, S.
In Leonardo Reviews, April 2008.
"Small Tech: The Culture of Digital Tools" Hawk, B (et. al) In Leonardo Reviews, June 2008.
"Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions" (The Movie Edition) Abbott, E.A. In Leonardo Reviews, July 2008.
"Creative Anger: Putting That Emotion To Good Use" Baruch, R. (et al.)
At http://metapsychology.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=book&id=4231&cn=139
"Beyond AI: Creating The Conscious of the Machine" Storrs Hall, J.

At http://metapsychology.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=book&id=4307&cn=139

 

"Leonardo Electronic Almanac".  Various issues throughout 2004 - 2006. 
"Leonardo" (print journal). Various issues throughout 2004 - 2008.

Reviews
(other than those with a URL) may be accessed at: http://leonardo
.info/ldr.html

Poetry:

"Scratches and Deeper Wounds"
, my first volume of poetry, published 1996.
"Footnotes",
(ed. Edwards, B.) Deakin Literary Society, 1999.
"North Coast Poets"
(ed. Barclay, P. et al) 1997.
Nimbin News; Deakin University’s Philosophy Newsletter; Planet Magazine.
Popular Articles:

Magazines such as Grass Roots, Simply Living, Nimbin News and specialist magazines.
Fiction:

"The Pawnbroker’s Shop"
(ed. Edwards, B.) Deakin Literary Society, 1998.
Planet Magazine.


TEACHING:
Intensive one day sculpture workshops (weekly) during 1991.

COMMISSIONS - PUBLIC WORKS:
1987 Dr D. Walker & C. Anderton "Aquarian Dream", sandstone.
1988 Czechoslovakian Government "Mother and Child", rosewood/beech/sandstone.
1987/88 Rich River Club "Locking Piece 3", marble 3.7m high.
1989 Fine Edge "Standing Figure", huon pine.
1989 Avoca Art Gallery "Moon God", sandstone 2.4m high.
1989 Nimbin Organics "The Couple", tallowwood 1.7m high.
1991 Daystar Rudolf Steiner School "Goanna Dreaming", camphor laurel 1.5m high.
1993 Daystar Rudolf Steiner School "Sound of Silence", sandstone 1.5m high.
1992 Dr A. McCardell "Phallus Erectus" sandstone .85m high.
2002-07 Various web site developments & graphic art projects.
Work held in numerous private collections.

EXHIBITIONS:
Avalon Arts Factory 1974
Wyong Arts Festival 1983 to '89
Pink Pelican Gallery 1983/84
Mudworks Exhibition 1984
Dolphin Theatre Art Show 1985
Sculpture Guild of NSW 1985 (One of Four)
Sculpture Guild of NSW 1985 (Open Day Show)
Gosford Festival Of The Waters 1985
Balmain Art Gallery 1985/86
Gallery 460 Gosford 1986/87
Vivian Art Gallery Sydney 1985/88
Imperial Centre Bicentennial Exhibitions 1988
Art Of Arts Gallery 1989
Australian Art Link 1987/92
Denison Sculpture Studio Sydney 1989/90
Nimbin Rocks Gallery 1989/92
Bond University Exhibition 1991
Rainbow Power Company 1992
Avoca Art Gallery 1989/92
Barefoot Sculptor's Exhibition Nimbin 1993
Barefoot Artist's Exhibition Nimbin 1993
Art and Soul Gallery The Channon 1994
Old Chocolate Factory Lismore 1995
Spring Arts Festival Nimbin 1995/07
Autumn Arts Festival Nimbin 2002/07
Nimbin Artist's Gallery 2002/03/07
Lismore Regional Gallery 2006
Autumn Arts Extravaganza Nimbin 2007/08
Art Aspects Gallery Lismore 2006/07

Border Art Prize Tweed Heads Gallery 2006/07
Fehva Exhibition/Auction Bangalow 2008


STUDY SUMMARY - UNIVERSITY:

My Honours degree covered: ‘Philosophy & Psychoanalysis’; ‘Sociobiology’; ‘Research Methodology’ and ‘Artificial Intelligence’. The thesis comes under the rubric, ‘Philosophy of Mind’ and is specifically concerned with the nature of the so called Unconscious Mind and generally concerned with the role of reason in works of art and literature. The research covered: Psychoanalysis; Surrealist Poetry; neurophysiological functions of the brain and Artificial Intelligence.

Abstract of Honours Thesis:
This thesis investigates the nature of the Freudian Unconscious and its relationship with Surrealist poetry.  The findings of recent neurophysiological research and dream-sleep experiments suggest that such an Unconscious is a myth.  The concept of nonconscious mental states, which are controlled by precise ratios of the brain's chemicals, as opposed to a dynamic, autonomous Freudian Unconscious is explored.  Analysis of the surrealist project itself, and a comparison of surrealist poetry with computer generated poetry, further supports the scientific evidence.  It also shows that the surrealists' belief, that they could circumvent the control of logical reasoning in their literary and artistic creations, was misguided.  It was not the purpose of this thesis to provide irrefutable evidence as to the non-existence of the Freudian Unconscious but to establish sufficient doubt to justify further detailed research.

My Bachelor of Arts degree consisted of a Major in Religious Studies, with closely associated units in Philosophy of Knowledge (History of Ideas, Social/Cultural and Scientific construction of knowledge). Together with a minor in the way Myth & Ideology is expressed through the media, literature and art.

ACADEMIC RESEARCH INTERESTS
:
Philosophy of Mind - particularly consciousness and embodied self-awareness.
Technology - especially computers, robotics and their cultural significance.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES:
Working on a second volume of poetry, "Mechanisms of Desire".
Active member of the Leonardo Review Panel (Leonardo, International Journal of ISAST).
Researching the technoMetamorphosis and its cultural implications (on hold).
Exploring the relationship of consciousness to an all-integrating field of matter (writings and images).

 

 

 

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