Digital art showcase: the contemporary world of online art exhibitions
Online Art Evolves Amidst the Global Pandemic
During the recent pandemic, virtual art festivals have become increasingly popular, as highlighted by the online edition of the international digital art festival Recto VRso. Several renowned digital artists, curators, and cultural professionals gathered online from April 14 to 16, 2021, discussing the future of online art on the platform World.
The pandemic has had a significant impact on the art world, with the closure of physical galleries and the cancellation of exhibitions. However, these challenges have spurred a new wave of creativity, driving artists to explore novel virtual landscapes as a means of showcasing and selling their works.
Maxence Grugier, a digital art journalist, noted that virtual worlds offer a new playground for artists, serving as both exhibition spaces and creative hubs. For many, the pandemic served as a catalyst for embracing this digital transformation, which is reshaping the art industry.
Pioneers in the field, such as Maurice Benayoun, have been producing avant-garde digital art since the 1990s. Benayoun's work, including "The Tunnel under the Atlantic," which linked two contemporary art museums across continents, highlights the historical connection between the Internet and art. The pandemic has given this movement a fresh meaning, providing a unique opportunity to explore and adapt to new virtual platforms.
Peggy Schoenegge, a Berlin-based freelance curator specializing in art history, also emphasized the long-standing use of technology in the industry. In 1991, she curated the "Virtual Museum" project, which used new technologies to showcase digital art. Her recent exhibition, "Portrait of a Future," is a digital replica of the Priska Pasquer Gallery in Cologne, Germany, demonstrating the freedom and possibilities that virtual worlds offer for artists and curators.
The transition to virtual art has not only impacted the creation and exhibition process but also the perception and value of artworks. For some, the shift from physical exhibitions to virtual spaces has raised questions about the status and value of digital artworks compared to their tangible counterparts. The use of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and blockchain technology is providing solutions to this challenge, by verifying and granting ownership of digital artworks.
In conclusion, the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of virtual art spaces, pushing the industry to innovate, adapt, and evolve. As digital infrastructure continues to develop, the art world is becoming increasingly accessible, and audiences from around the globe can engage with and appreciate digital art in ways previously unimaginable.
In the evolving art landscape amidst the global pandemic, technology plays a crucial role as a catalyst for innovation, serving as a platform for artists to showcase and sell their works in virtual landscapes. This shift in lifestyle, moving towards digital art, is reshaping the art industry and making it more accessible to worldwide audiences.
