Media Art: challenge or cheat?
Three talks at the ICA in March opened up the subject of Media Art. Take part in our discussion & have your say on art that comes out of a computer.
Is art art, whatever tools you use to make it? Or does the use of digital technology constitute a kind cheating? For three days in March, the ICA, responsible for one of the earliest exhibitions of computer-generated art, Cybernetic Serendipity in 1968, played host to a series of discussions on the state of Media Art today.
In Candy + Code (Mon 17 March) three different artists talked about their practice using technology to realise their creativity.
For The Fundamentals of Digital Art (Tues 18 March), Richard Colson talked about his new book of the same title and looked at the history and development of art that uses digital technology.
Our third event High Tech, Low Tech: Technology in Art and Curating (Weds 19 March, part of our 60 Years of Curating series) explored the idea of a split between art exhibitions and media art exhibitions, and possible mistrust of technology in art by curators.
Are you a media artist or do you work in more traditional media? A fan of media art, or someone for whom only painting and sculpture can really be expressive? Do you even need to come to places like the ICA any more to experience cutting-edge contemporary art? Is Media Art a flash in the pan or do you think it's here to stay?
Post your thoughts on the subject, your reactions to any of the talks, or just links to your favourite pieces of digital art here.
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Comment(s)
Danny Birchall
A recent revelation for me has been Jared Tarbell. Two things I've never cared much about: intricately detailed, fractal-type art, and Flash-based art are brought together to wonderful effect using generative processes that take simple mathematical realtionships and extrapolate them into complex, beautiful patterns that evolve as you watch. See www.complexification.net www.levitated.net for some lovely stuff.
Posted: 12:43 pm | 13 March 2008
Lex Russell
When we talk about "media art", we are surely referring to digital art? In today's world, it seems pointless to draw an artificial distinction between digital media and non-digital. The two are completely interwoven. Take, for instance, the forthcoming exhibition by the P40B Art Collective in London (www.011108.co.uk). They take traditional media (in this case, signage) and subvert it in digital form.
Posted: 3:09 pm | 12 October 2008
Ellie Nicholls
In a similar vein of thought the British Creative Exchange is hosting an event at the Jerwood Space on November 25th. The event will see Nathalie Schwarz, a board member at Channel four and Phillip O'Ferell (Vice President of digital media for MTV) engaging in a discussion about how our listening and broadcasting approaches have shifted for the 21st century. In addition to this the British Creative exchange is hosting a multidisciplinary workshop and internship event to help emergent talent working in the creative sector to better refine their skillsets. To book tickets and for further information visit- www.britishcreativexchange.com
Posted: 10:03 am | 22 October 2008