Slide 1
Only dots and lines, right? We often think of networks as quantitive technical diagrams built for analysis. My background in Philosophy and Art History shapes my approach to Data Visualization applied to Network Science. I see these visuals not merely as tools, but also as provocations for philosophical questions.
Slide 2
When I explored the world of the Arts, I found myself asking: What does inclusion look like in a network? Can we design networks not only as tools for analysis, but also as instruments for ethical decision-making—visualizations that let us see, and even measure, social justice, representation, and inclusion?
Slide 3
In the scope of my Master’s Thesis at the Barabási Lab, I studied how long-standing power structures shaped the presence of artists at the Venice Biennale. I mapped nearly 19,000 artists and over a million institutions over 129 years to measure and visualize how Global South artists have been included.
Slide 4
Even in the most recent edition, centered on Global South art, these artists remain a statistical minority, positioned at the periphery of the network, reflecting a continued marginalization. Designing these networks with ethical considerations may not only enhance our understanding of such patterns but also guide effective future decisions.
Slide 5, 6
I argue that Network Science analysis and visualization can reveal inequalities. However, these patterns need to be contextualized within a humanistic framework. In my case study, I applied a classical contractualist philosophical framework to examine how artists are selected, curators appointed, and exhibition themes defined.
My argument is that the curator resembles a monarch in a top-down system of artist selection, rather than a democratically elected figure in a bottom-up appointment process. The political parallel is that the curator, by choosing the theme of the exhibition and selecting the artists, holds substantial decision power with limited feedback mechanisms, directly shaping representation.
Slide 7
Three main take aways:
[Network] First, the Biennale has been historically dominated by Western male artists, with recent inclusivity still the exception.
[Philosophy] Second, from a philosophical perspective, the Biennale calls for a paradigm shift toward inclusivity.
[Data Viz] Third, network visualization demand greater visual clarity, opening space for artistic forms.
Slide 8
Networks can reveal gaps invisible to literature or quantitative analysis, but this also raises ethical concerns for policy. The challenge is clear: can network science move beyond its biases and rethink visualization — not just as analysis, but as a moral imperative for a more inclusive future?
Slide 9
This work is only a first attempt to bridge network science, information design, and ethical inquiry toward a more integrated interdisciplinary research. A research that reminds us that network visualizations are never just dots and lines.