The Role of Technology in Art

Without the information technology and digital technology, the world can no longer move forward. The impact of these new technologies on all aspects of life is increasing day by day. Modern technology is having a huge impact on recent art. Both art and technology define and continue to reshape the world we live in. the technology has been providing creatives with original ways of expression since its beginning.

People started tackling the idea of blending visual art and technology since the ‘1960s. The first attempt to bring together technology and art in the creative process takes us to 1967. Back then, a group of New York artists including John Cage, Robert Rauschenberg, Robert Whitman, and Yvonne Rainer and more, worked with engineers and scientists from the world-renowned Bell Laboratories to create ground-breaking performances incorporating new technology. These first installations and performances promoting the use of technology in creating art set a cornerstone for further digital art development.

The 1980s saw digital technologies reach into everyday life, with the widespread adoption of computers for both business and personal use. Computer graphics and special effects began to be used in films such as ‘Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan’ and ‘Tron’, both 1982, as well as in television programmes. Combined with the popularity of video and computer games, computing technology began to be a much more familiar sight at home, as well as at work.

In 1990s onwards the term ‘Computer Art’ is used less frequently to describe artists and designers working with the computer today. Many artists who now work with computers incorporate this technology into their practice as just one tool amongst many that they may use interchangeably. This is part of a more general shift towards artists and designers working in an increasingly interdisciplinary manner. Many no longer define themselves as practitioners of a specific media.

Modern technology is having a huge impact on recent art. Modern artists are using new materials and techniques to produce their artworks. Whereas in the past painting and drawing were the main mediums used by artists in their work, now in the 21st century installations, sound, video and computers are becoming more widely used and popular. Artists today are continually experimenting with new technology in different ways, finding new ways to use old mediums and finding new mediums as well.

The internet is becoming used more with many contemporary artists using it to display their works with online galleries, talk to other artists and sell their works. 

The change of artworks’ nature along with the shift in the public interaction and the reshaping of the museums and exhibition spaces are making more room today than ever before for some of the most amazing examples of art and technology mix through digital art, kinetic pieces, and works that explore the internet and online existence.

Advantages of Digital Art

• Efficiency and cost-effectiveness – An artist or illustrator skilled at using digital tools can quickly create digital art with modest to no investment in time or money.
• Versatility – It can be computer-generated, scanned and altered, or drawn using a tablet and a mouse. Video edits are instantaneous and reversible.
• Permanence – It can remain indefinitely in a computer file format, so cannot be degraded by the environment.
• Perfect replication – It precisely replicates the original work. Copies and the original are identical.
• Strong impact for minimal cost – For a minimal investment, well-crafted digital images can create a strong impression on the viewer. They can, for example, serve as a call to action (CTA) in advertising.
• Enhances communication – Digital art is indispensable to attracting online viewers. It enhances communication and viewer comprehension.
• Expands time for the creative input – Digital tools can be quickly and easily applied, giving the artist more time to explore creative options.

The collision of art and technology has been empowering to artists and audiences alike. Artists can expose their work to a global audience by simply clicking ‘share’ on any chosen social media platform. Artists can transcend cultural, geographical, and social boundaries. The traditional paths to success have been reshaped because of the Internet.

With every new evolution in technology, art changes too. Technology has impacted the arts greatly. It has opened up so many opportunities for artists and has expanded the number of techniques artists are able to access. Artists can now “paint” on an iPad just as well as they can on canvas with a paintbrush and paint.