An oracle is a person or agency considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophetic opinion; an infallible authority, usually spiritual in nature. Sometimes a particular site becomes an oracle.
Oracles were common in ancient civilizations. The best known to us today are those preserved as books, like the Chinese Book of Changes (I Ching), or those immortalised in myth, like the classical Greek Pythia of the temple of Apollo in Delphi.
Oracles continue to play an important part in religion and government in many cultures today, and some, like the Tarot, are used as techniques for individual “fortune telling”. A more popular version is the Fortune Cookie found in (western) Chinese restaurants, which can also help one to select winning lottery tickets.
The use of randomness was an important technique for many artists of the 20th century, notably Duchamp and Cage.
“Random” choices are not without structure – for instance the yarrow-stalk oracle used for the I Ching favours certain hexagrams over others, and is sensitive to natural and human intervention. Mp3 players can be programmed to favour certain audio tracks over others, to favour certain orders of events, etc.
Other Influences. Some Fluxus pieces, existing as collections of “text scores” to be performed, have oracle or game-like
qualities, encouraging audience participation. Brian Eno and Peter Schmidts Oblique Strategies cards were designed as a
block-breaking oracle for creative people.
Other oracle-like publications are collections of aphorisms of philosophers or the maxims of political leaders such as Mao tse Tung.
The Oracle in Luxembourg combines various modes and techniques associated with classical oracles. Predictions of the future are made, of course, but the oracle can also come up with wise statements, comments about the visible environment, personal advice, riddles, instructions for performative actions, political observations, and inspiration for all visitors. It attempts to answer all questions, especially those that the visitor didn’t ask. It is truly a 21st century oracle, using state- of-the-art random technology to prepare and share its wisdom.