Digital art
Related: digital - electronic - new media - media art - art
Definition
Digital art is art created on a computer in digital (that is, binary) form. The term is usually reserved for art that has been non-trivially modifed by the computer; text data and raw audio and video recordings are not usually considered digital art, in themselves but can be part of a larger project, since the computer is merely the storage medium or tool which is used to create the work.
Digital art can be purely computer-generated, such as fractals, or taken from another source, such as a scanned photograph or an image drawn using vector graphics software, using either a mouse or graphics tablet. The availability and popularity of photograph manipulation software has spawned a vast and creative library of highly modified images, many bearing little or no hint of the original image. Using electronic versions of brushes, filters and enlargers, these "Neographers" produce images unattainable through conventional photographic tools. In addition, digital artists may manipulate scanned drawings, paintings, collages or lithographs, as well as using any of the above-mentioned techniques in combination. Artists also use many other sources of information and programmes to create their work.
3D graphics are created via the process of designing complex imagery from geometric shapes, polygons or nurbs to create realistic 3 dimensional shapes, objects and scenes for use in various media such as film, television, print and special visual effects. There are many software programmes for doing this.
The mainstream media uses a lot of digital art in advertisements, and computers are used extensively in film to produce special effects. Desktop publishing has had a huge impact on the publishing world, although that is more related to graphic design.
Nonetheless, digital art is yet to gain the acceptance and regard reserved for "serious" artforms such as sculpture, painting and drawing, perhaps due to the erroneous impression of many that "the computer does it for you". But this only is reasonable in a few cases as many 'digital artists' come from a traditional art background and are using computers in their practice to realise their ideas.
There traditional background still forces them to take in to account the basic principles of design such as balence, repeation, movement and others aspects as well that all forms of art a bind to too some some degree.
Digital artists have a wide range of above-mentioned techniques - arguably more extensive than those of other modes of art - at their disposal with which to creatively express themselves.
Computers are also commonly used to make music, especially electronic music, since they present an easy and powerful way to arrange and create sound samples. It is possible that general acceptance of the value of digital art will progress in much the same way as the increased acceptance of electronically produced music over the last three decades.
We are now in a postdigital era, where digital technologies are no longer a novelty in the art world, and "the medium is no longer the message." [1] (http://www.anechoicmedia.com/twiki/pub/Main/RandomSystemWorkshop/CMJ24_4Cascone.pdf) Digital tools have now become an integral part of the process of making art. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_art [Oct 2004]
The Prix Ars Electronica
The Prix Ars Electronica is a yearly prize in the field of electronic and interactive art, computer animation, digital culture and music. It has been awarded since 1987 by Ars Electronica (Linz, Austria), one of the world's major centers for art and technology. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prix_Ars_Electronica [May 2004]
In 2004, the Golden Nica, the highest prize, was awarded in six categories: "Computer Animation/Visual Effects," "Digital Musics," "Interactive Art," "Net Vision," "Digital Communities" and the "u19" award for "freestyle computing." Each Golden Nica came with a prize of 10,000 Euros, apart from the u19 category, where the prize was 5,600 Euros. In each category, there are also Awards of Distinction and Honorary Mentions. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prix_Ars_Electronica [May 2004]
I was on the Digital Communities jury this year for Ars Electronica. Thanks to the two jury pre-selection and final jury process, we were able to spend a lot of time on the 60 or so entries that were selected from hundreds of submissions by the first jury. We had an awesome jury. The final jury was me, Andreas Hirsch, Shanthi Kalathil (co-author of Open Networks, Closed Regimes: The Impact of the Internet on Authoritarian Rule), Jane Metcalfe (co-founder of Wired), Dorothy Okello (Coordinator of the Women of Uganda Network), Howard Rheingold (the Smart Mobs guy ;-) ) and Oliviero Toscani (The guy who made the controversial Benetton ads). We gave our two Golden Nica cash prizes to Wikipedia and The World Starts With Me. I'm sure everyone knows Wikipedia. The World Starts With Me is a project from Uganda. --Joi Ito http://joi.ito.com/archives/2004/05/05/prix_ars_electronica_prizes_announced.html [May 2004]
Prix Ars Electronica 2005
The call for submissions to Prix Ars Electronica 2005 will go out in January of next year. Information concerning entry conditions will be posted online in December.
Once again in 2005, juries made up of eminent experts from around the world will be treated to a dazzling display of creativity and innovation in the Computer Animation / Visual Effects, Digital Musics, Interactive Art, Net Vision and Digital Communities categories. The u19 – freestyle computing competition for young people resumes its search for Austria’s most talented computer kids, and [the next idea] art and technology grant will be giving up-and-coming young artists the opportunity and the means to bring outstanding concepts to fruition. --http://www.aec.at/en/global/news.asp?iNewsID=656 [Oct 2004]
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