How the Internet Changed Art

The internet has brought us many things and many dilemmas. Claim the Michigan lottery bonus or binge a couple of seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, buy the thing you were looking for in a nearby store or get them dirt-cheap from online sellers with ludicrous delivery times. One of the things it changed is art and here is how.

New Mediums

Usually, when we talk about art, we mean paintings and sculptures. It is very rare that mainstream media considers installations and performance pieces art. However, the digital age has allowed us to use new mediums in creating art, exploring emotions, leaving an impression, or sending a message. Graphic design is one of the areas that would likely not exist without the internet, at least not in this capacity.

The technology we have available now allows us to create something from virtually nothing, painting on screens, modeling objects and people and so much more. Every day, there are new ways to express ourselves and practical uses for our pieces of art.

Reaching Out

Art used to be somewhat elitist in the past. Only those with a rich upbringing could fully appreciate the works of some of history’s finest sculptors and painters. As education became more available to the masses, so did art find its way into our lives. The internet has upped the stakes in two ways.

First of all, art is no longer something you can admire only if you can afford it. Museums and galleries all over the world are introducing virtual visits and VR experiences that guide you through the pieces of art, their school of thought, and the era in which they were created. It is no longer a matter of being a part of the elite, but a question of whether you are interested in learning more.

Secondly, it gives the artists new platforms to promote themselves and share their message across the globe. Many artists, like Van Gogh, lived their entire lives in poverty and were only discovered and appreciated after their death. Now, up-and-coming artists, use Facebook, Instagram, and other social media to display their work and receive immediate feedback.

Drawbacks

There is a downside to art being available to everyone, which was one of the reasons it was such an exclusive world up until recently. Anyone can praise or criticize anything online. That means that while a piece might not be appreciated by the art critics, it could be very well received by the masses and vice versa.

It also gives way to the questionable art and installations, like the infamous $120,000 banana in Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian that has the people wondering what kind of crazy ideas they could pull and call them art in the process. The internet quickly gives the spotlight to any form of controversy, so artists that are not interesting enough may lose their share of the audience to something like this. Is the purpose of art to shock? Sometimes. However, the internet is inhabited by attention-seekers and they thrive the most in this environment. We could be looking at a new trend in the art world.