Have you been to Digital Art Museum?

Digital art uses technology in the process of creating art. It refers not only to visual art but also to video shows and exhibitions that are created through a digital mechanism.

The use of computers for the sake of art is ancient almost as the first computer, and actually, it started with the analog computers way back in the 1940s, when artists used them to generate titles for films.

Computer art, which lasted before the digital art, refers to the mechanical process as a part of the art itself. In England of the 60′, an artist invented ‘drawing machine’ which was functioned by three analog computer machines that were used during the second world war. The graphic abstract pictures were displayed in galleries and museums with the machines that generated them.

These creations, also known as ‘generative graphic’, were exchanged by the coming of the digital era for ‘algorithm art’, a term that defines art that is created by an automated system.

Computer art collection

Victoria and Albert Museum is a large museum for art and design, that also holds collections of national cultural treasures. The museum was established in the 19th century, with the principle of making art available for everybody. Nowadays the museum displays historical and contemporary displays.

This museum displays collections of more than 50 years of computer art, including computer-generated drawings, digital prints, and an extensive collection from the era of analog computer including unique items and artworks.

machinery-drawing-vector

Evaluating into digital art

The first digital image was created in the 1950s, by a process of scanning a photograph with a computer that could recognize characters and draw. The result was displayed on an oscilloscope screen.

Still in the 1960s, three inventors, mathematician, engineer and a computer scientist who were later known as 3N, simultaneously exposed their digital computer graphic art creations that were displayed in galleries’ exhibitions through the 60.’

Though they used their inventions for productions and research, they considered their works as pure art. The 60′ were the years of Bell Labs who were pioneers in the digital art field.

The analog computer started the evolution of art, but it was the digital computer which carried on the process, and not any other machines. The main reason for neglecting other forms of the mechanism is the ease of use that these computers provide with just a click of the mouse.

The digital art developed as purely computer-generating and as mixed sourced materials such as photos and graphic vectors that were processed digitally to create masterpieces. Well known in this field of art is Andy Warhol, who created his digital art by digitalizing and processing photos.

As for the definition of works of art, it is the process that turns the term to ‘digital art’ as the work itself is being judged by its qualities.

Computer and digital artists’ exhibitions

Digital art is a new way of giving expression and personal meaning to the reality. Like any cultural era in our history, new media artists strive for their art, beliefs, and recognition.

There is a large number of digital art museums and galleries throughout the world, most of them present diverse works of various artists, which makes the digital art so Varied and innovative.

Here are two (among many) interesting museums of digital art, that somehow keep the spirit of a traditional museum. Know any interesting digital art exhibitions? Share with us.
MOCA

The Museum of Computer Art is a web museum and a nonprofit body which is chartered by NYS Department of Education.

The digital museum includes a vast collection of digital art pieces of artists from around the world. All the pictures are available for viewing online.

The collection was gathered for more than 20 years by the founders of the museum, who are computer artists themselves, it includes all sorts of digital artworks such as fractals, computer-painted art, 3-D rendered and more. Visiting the site is somehow like wandering through a real museum corridors, looking at many paintings of different styles.

Illuminated Wall Frames
Image source: Illuminated wall frames premium image from Freepik.

 

LACDA

Los Angeles has its own digital art center, LACDA, which was established more than 10 years ago with the urge to give a stage to the new becoming of art and technology, including new media, digital sculpture, interactive multimedia and forms of art and technology.

The center offers a stage for digital artists by displaying their works in the gallery.

It also involves print, which artists use for gallery exhibitions, and video displays.

Before it was expanded, the museum was located in ‘gallery raw’ in downtown Los Angeles. The museum displays unique new media and digital art exhibitions of various artists.

Waiting for Star Wars

What a great idea, a museum that presents visual stories, a collection of historical illustrations, a glimpse of cinema creative processes, digital media objects and more.

But Lucas museum of narrative art, which designed by George Lucas (Yes, from “Star Wars”) was not established yet. Anyway, the website presents some astonishing digital images and artworks.