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| “BOKOR” image copyright 2003 Charcoal on $5 A1 paper (It’s ‘life-size’) Evidence of my technical skill such as it is. |
I am of a generation of academic artists from the Da Vinci method who predate ‘digital art’.
The phrase ‘real artist’ used to be applied to the artists not using computers. Their criticism was “digital art is not real art.”
As an art historian I am giving voice to that generation, my teachers, very few of whom remain alive in 2022 although their memory and teachings most certainly do live on through their students application of knowledge and technique. A direct lineage to the founder of our Academy.
It is amusing to watch younger generation who emerged after the innovation of digital art, now claiming themselves to be real artists, pitted against emerging technological progress of AI. In many cases they are saying the same thing as did many of my elders; “computers will take all our jobs away.”
Back in the day there were several replies to this debate, which the younger generation of digital artists appears to have not yet thought of.
“They said the same thing about photography 100 years ago.”
But quite the contrary: it liberated artists. Impressionism and Expressionism emerged among countless art movements during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Others said:
“Art is innovation. It’s a poetic and practical response to the Human condition. We adapt and survive or we die out.”
My favourite however is this:
“Art is deity. It is a fluid energy. The living are its paintbrushes, our lives it’s canvas. Those who live this way are real artists. Others are fakes. They are copyists or they compromise for commerce. They won’t accept Art is a spiritual path of discovery. The quest of; what is Art?”
Today people mention to me:
“But good sir, there is so very little of your handmade art uploaded and available for our perusal on the internet!”
“Why yes.” I reply, “It is that way on purpose. In the old days we were taught foresight and critical thinking as part of the tradition. It is integrated into the study, the practise and development of the techniques. Sadly we do not see so much of that remaining in the digital era. It is a tragic loss.”
This may be a good posteriori way to understand the difference between Modernism and Post-Modernism. Modernism was a direct attack on accountability. Post-modernism is the culture which emerges as a result of that.
The elemental symbol for this era is petro-plastic. It’s qualities: mutable, useful, toxic, requires processing, expensive, polluting, multi-functional.
The socio-psychological symbol for this era is advent and refined forms of Narcissism.
My favourite quote from Peter Robinson:
“To other people, the object is the art. To the artist, Art is a trail left behind in pursuit of answering questions we cannot put into words. That is why we make it. We are driven to make it. Then we relate to Art as a consuming energy. It flows through us, takes over our lives. Techniques are a way of refining our expression of it to get its message out.”
The relationship between Art in all it’s forms and the Human need for storytelling should in my opinion be the focus of the emerging cultures attitude toward art. The AI technology has enabled the making of storytellers of us all. Nobody owns that; expression of soul and situation is a Human right.
LINKS
(related blog series)
ON AI ABC (art business culture)
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