A look at the developing world of digital artistry
At Parrot Print, we love to embrace all forms of photography and art. From traditional concepts to bold new thinking, we’re ready to get involved and see where it leads us. Although digital artistry is not a brand new art form, it is now capturing the attention of millions and beginning to show an impact on more traditional art forms. From selfies to virtual reality, we look at some of the most prominent digital artists to take note of.
Amalia Ulman
In 2014, Argentinian-born artist Amalia Ulman began an art project through Instagram and Facebook that would become one of the most original artworks of the digital era. She named it ‘Excellences & Perfections’ and she played several characters within it - mostly through the medium of selfies on her iPhone. The results appeared to document her attempt to make it as an ‘It girl’.
She posed in lingerie, took selfies in the mirrors of boutique hotel lifts, took pictures of close up rose petals and adorable kittens - all in an effort to highlight the narcissism of social media.
Ulman attended pole dancing classes and even pretended to undergo breast-enlargement surgery. Then, five months later, it all came to an end and the artist revealed to her 89,244 followers that she had been staging an elaborate performance.
Earlier this year, several of the 175 photographs that Ulman created for the project were shown in two exhibitions: Electronic Superhighway, at the Whitechapel Gallery, and Tate Modern’s Performing for the Camera, both in London.
Ian Cheng
American artist Ian Cheng makes what he calls live simulation; they are like video games that play by themselves. One of his best known works is 'Emissary in the Squat of Gods, a piece about a prehistoric girl deciding how to respond to the threat of a volcano eruption.
The characters in his simulations are like computerised versions of real-life animals and humans and even Cheng does not know what they will do or how his work will play out. They are infinitely mutating, continuing to evolve over time. Although he has an idea of the theme of his work, once it is created it becomes out of his control.
Jon Rafman
Canadian-born Jon Rafman is an artist, film maker and essayist whose work centres around the concept of the impact of technology on contemporary consciousness. He is famed for using images from Google Street View that show snapshots into everyday life in all their honesty and weirdness. He also put together the 2015 video, sculpture and photography exhibition named 'Sticky Drama' with Daniel Lopatin, which is a fully live-action short movie featuring a cast of over 35 children, developed in London. It's a surreal viewing but very interesting!
We hope this post has offered up some inspiration for your next project, and hopefully it will inspire some photos to transfer to canvas. Check out our top tips for taking the perfect selfie, just like Amalia Ulman.