Digital art as a social remedy in solving technologically-induced problems

Digital technologies make our everyday life easier in many ways. However, excessive use may bring us some struggles such as anxiety from doom scrolling, insomnia, eye strain, and a feeling of social isolation (powered by 5G). At a glance, it could seem that screens and what we see on them are the overbearing evil of today. Hence, one might rightfully question how to “recover” from technologically-induced problems? One of the answers, other than straight-up digital detox, is digital art! 

 

Let’s face it — the digital world has become an inevitable part of our life, to the point that there is no way back, whether we like it or not. The artists’ goal, as usual, is to conceptualise it on an existential and aesthetic level. This includes artistic reflection on technologically-induced challenges that we’re facing. When some artists ponder the prospects of humans coexisting with technology, others analyse the medium — from software to screens.

 

Emotional state

 

Continuum Collection v.2 by Krista Kim. Available to purchase on TAEX

 

Staying in front of the screens for hours and days may let us lose track of time, get us stressed or anxious. However, the very same screens or augmented reality glasses often serve as a tool of psychological and medical support, certified by ministries of health. Indeed, healthcare gets digitised, and mental well-being is no exception. COVID-19 pandemic followed by a global crisis era only increased the demand for new digital ways of healing. No wonder artists have embraced it as well.

Thus, the renowned artist Krista Kim created the digital work Continuum that travels around the globe and was presented in the framework of the last World Economic Forum in Davos. With her shifting abstract minimalist landscape inspired by the Ryoanji Temple Garden in Kyoto she invites each and everyone to take a moment for themselves by offering an environment to mediate. Currently Continuum is on show at Outernet London, proudly presented by TAEX. Please note that some NFTs from Continuum collection are still available for collecting on our platform.

 

New existence

 

 

'specious upwellings' by Entangled Others

 

The eventual cohabitation of humans and non-human entities becomes a focus of artistic reflection. The art group Entangled Others is convinced that it’s not only about coexistence but about the intertwining of these two worlds. “The rich substrate of the uncanny, eerie spaces between us and the non-human world cannot remain as an aesthetic space, our world cannot bear this self-imposed distance and denial of our inter-twined state of us and others”. Entangled Others co-founder Sofia Crespo in her solo work shares the idea that on the ontological level “technologies are a biased product of the organic life that created them and not a completely separated object”.

Digital technologies affect our self-perception as well. For an American artist Petra Cortright, the fact of constantly recording and being watched became the subject of her artwork Vvebcam (2007).

 

Vvebcam, Petra Cortright

 

Inclusive spaces

 

Many curators see digital art as a tool to overcome the social boundaries of the traditional art world and to facilitate contact with the audience. As curator Daniel Peace admitted in an interview with TAEX, the development of digital art had “at first a natural progression, but the real dive into everything was when COVID-19 hit. Virtual projects like Discord Club and Clubhouse appeared. The virtuality was part of a lot of panel discussions. During the pandemic, we were not sure that it wouldn't stay forever”

 

Digital art environments have offered this unique opportunity to bring together renowned artists and underrepresented ones.

 

Facing a digital era, artists are rethinking self-perception, communication patterns and conceptualising the new existence of organic and artificial entities. Where will this new cultural age take us? Hopefully, to a place of progress, minus the eye strain. 

Visuals on cover: 'specious upwellings' by Entangled Others