The Digital Future of Art

Since the dawn of humanity, we, as a species, have shared the innermost need to express ourselves through creative forms of what would later become known as “art”. Throughout history, art has mostly remained unchanged, Yes, trends come and went, new genres and styles and media went in and out of fashion. But still, art remained unscathed by the developing landscape of our own growth as human beings. It was as if it enjoyed some invisible protection, a privileged status. However, it was just a matter of time before technology, an integral part of our lives, would become integrated into that aspect of our existence, challenging what we perceive as art.

Art has been and will continue to be one of the main instruments of emotional representation and empathetic interconnectedness in all its beautiful forms. The changing digital nature of art cannot change that. Auditory and visual sensations of enjoying a piece of art (we’re leaving kinaesthetic out since art’s on a no-touch basis 99% of the time) remain well-transferred into various digital formats.

Yes, paintings still need to hang from walls and yes, sculptures still need pedestals to sit on (unless they’re the sort that stands on its own), and that’s never going to change. What will change, however, is how much digital art there is and how that form of art is appreciated.

That’s why a change was inevitable. Today, we acknowledge digital methods of creating art, but we condone AI-generated or AI-facilitated art. Will that change? Who knows. Some day, it might be awarded a category of its own.

The Changing Landscape of the World of Art

Everything’s becoming digital nowadays. Vinyl’s all well and good, but why go through all the trouble of buying a record, a turntable, speakers, an amp, cleaning the record, and finally playing it when you could just turn on Spotify and listen to your favorite tunes in a matter of not even minutes, but seconds.

You might be wondering what this has to do with art, and the answer is everything. For one, Artificial Intelligence has marked a turning point in the world of art by allowing digital art to seep into even the most tech-unsavvy homes. No, we won’t delve into the ethical concerns of what art is, as there isn’t a clear and definitive answer, but we wish to focus on the new medium of art.

What’s more, it’s not just the artist who is changing with the digital world, it’s the connoisseur as well. Where once were only in-person exhibits in galleries, you now have digital art perusing before making your purchase, be it physical or digital art. Comfort is fast becoming the name of the game in the world of art, and while everything traditional will always, as it rightfully should, have its place in our lives. There’s simply something organic about the crackle of an LP as well as about the brushes of a paintbrush on canvas that digital formats cannot achieve. However, digital is here to stay. Even more, it might even become the future of different forms of art.

Several Reasons Why Digital Is the Future

You might be thinking that it’s a simple matter of comfort and availability. However, it isn’t, as there’s much more to digital art and digital trade portals for traditional, physical art than meets the eye. In fact, there are a couple of essential reasons why going digital is steadily becoming the way to go with art.

Democracy in the World of Art

To be completely honest, traditional art circles, together with auctions and exhibitions, can be extremely elitist and closed off to the “general public”. This type of gatekeeping has traditionally served to offer art an air of mystique and prestige. However, modern times call for modern methods, and jealousy keeping art from the masses is no longer a winning combination.

Members of the Gen X, Y, and Z do not like being deterred by the bourgeois approach to traditional art. If they are, they’ll quickly lose interest and art will lose entire generations of connoisseurs. Up-and-coming generations want democracy in all aspects of life, art included, and keeping it from them is no longer a method for success.

Ecology Is Essential

Another important selling point, of course, in the figurative sense, is the eco-friendly nature of digital art. Sustainability is one of our world’s most pressing concerns. Seeing how art is traditionally a reflection of societal trials and tribulations, it doesn’t surprise that the eco-friendly essence of digital art is one of its main propagators across the globe. Traditional market isn’t as competitive in this aspect, making it seem not only aging, but obsolete, with digital art steaming ahead.

Don’t Disregard Comfort

Finally, perusing digital art and digitized physical art is far more comfortable than having to physically be in galleries to see it in person. Mona Lisa pilgrimages are becoming a thing of the past as young guns fail to understand why they’d take a trip to Paris to witness it live when they could do that from the comfort of their own gaming chair in greater detail, in virtually the same size on their monitors, and without everybody else breathing down their necks. Who even likes down-the-neck breaths…

Data Doesn’t Lie

Let’s look back at the history of digital art and how it has evolved. Although it feels like a recent development, it is not. With every day, we see technology go further and further. Inevitably, art evolves with it and it is consistently redefined by new technologies. 

Digital art has come a long way since its inception in the 1960s, when artists first began experimenting with computer technology as a medium for creating art. Here are some of the key ways that digital art has evolved over the years:

Hardware and Software Advances: Advances in computer hardware and software have made digital art more accessible, affordable, and powerful. Artists can now use a wide range of software tools to create digital art, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and 3D modeling software.

Expanded Creativity: Digital art has expanded the possibilities of creativity in art. Artists can create artworks using tools that allow them to manipulate images, generate patterns, and create unique visual effects that were impossible to achieve with traditional media.

More mediums: Digital art has evolved to include more mediums such as video, interactive installations, and virtual and augmented reality experiences. Digital art installations can now be experienced by audiences in public spaces such as museums, galleries, and outdoor venues.

Online Communities: The rise of online communities and social media platforms has made it easier for digital artists to connect with each other, share their work, and reach a global audience.

Commercialization: Digital art has become more commercialized with the advent of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and blockchain technology. This has allowed digital artists to sell their works as unique, one-of-a-kind items with secure digital ownership.

Overall, digital art has evolved from a niche experimental medium to a dynamic and rapidly growing field with countless possibilities for creativity and innovation.