🎨American Art – 1945 to Present Unit 9 – Video and Digital Art

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Video art involves the use of video technology to create artistic works, often presented on monitors, projectors, or other electronic devices
• Digital art encompasses artworks created or displayed using digital technologies (computers, software, digital cameras)
  • Includes computer-generated imagery, digital painting, and interactive installations
• New media art is an umbrella term for artworks that incorporate emerging technologies and media, including video and digital art
• Installation art involves the creation of immersive, site-specific environments that engage the viewer's senses
• Interactivity in art refers to works that require viewer participation or input to be fully realized
• Time-based media describes artworks that unfold over a specific duration (video, film, sound)
• Glitch art intentionally incorporates digital or analog errors and distortions as an aesthetic choice

Historical Context and Emergence

• Video art emerged in the 1960s as artists began experimenting with portable video recording technology
  • Nam June Paik and Wolf Vostell were among the first artists to incorporate television sets and video into their artworks
• The accessibility of video equipment allowed artists to challenge the dominance of traditional media (painting, sculpture)
• Digital art gained prominence in the 1980s and 1990s as personal computers became more widely available
• The rise of the internet in the 1990s provided new platforms for artists to create, distribute, and exhibit digital works
• Advancements in software and hardware have continuously expanded the possibilities for video and digital art
• The influence of conceptual art and performance art on video and digital art practices
• The role of alternative spaces and artist-run initiatives in supporting experimental video and digital art

Pioneering Artists and Works

• Nam June Paik, considered the "father of video art," created installations incorporating television sets and manipulated video footage (TV Buddha, 1974)
• Bruce Nauman explored the psychological and physical dimensions of human experience through video works (Art Make-Up, 1967-68)
• Vito Acconci used video to document intimate, often controversial performances (Seedbed, 1972)
• Bill Viola creates immersive video installations that explore spiritual and metaphysical themes (The Crossing, 1996)
• Lynn Hershman Leeson pioneered interactive and virtual reality artworks (Lorna, 1979-84)
• Cory Arcangel is known for his subversive digital works that often appropriate and manipulate found media (Super Mario Clouds, 2002)
• Pipilotti Rist creates lush, dreamlike video installations that envelop the viewer (Ever Is Over All, 1997)

Technological Advancements

• The introduction of portable video recording equipment (Sony Portapak) in the 1960s made video art more accessible to artists
• The development of digital video cameras and editing software in the 1990s expanded the creative possibilities for video artists
• Advancements in computer graphics and 3D modeling software have enabled artists to create highly detailed, immersive digital environments
• The proliferation of the internet and social media has provided new platforms for artists to distribute and exhibit their work
  • Net art emerged as artists created works specifically for online viewing and interaction
• Virtual reality and augmented reality technologies have opened up new avenues for interactive and immersive digital art experiences
• The increasing affordability and accessibility of digital tools has democratized video and digital art production

Artistic Techniques and Processes

• Video artists often manipulate and edit recorded footage to create non-linear narratives, abstract compositions, or distorted imagery
• Digital artists use software to create, modify, and composite images, 3D models, and animations
• Glitch artists intentionally corrupt or manipulate digital files to create visual distortions and artifacts
• Projection mapping involves projecting video or digital content onto irregular surfaces or objects, transforming their appearance
• Generative art uses algorithms and computer programs to create works that evolve or change based on specific rules or inputs
• Interactive installations often incorporate sensors, cameras, or other input devices to allow viewers to influence the artwork's behavior or appearance
• Video and digital art may incorporate elements of performance, sound, or physical objects to create multi-sensory experiences

Themes and Subject Matter

• Video and digital artists often explore the impact of technology on society, identity, and human experience
• Surveillance, privacy, and the pervasiveness of digital media are common themes in contemporary video and digital art
• Artists use video and digital technologies to critique consumerism, mass media, and popular culture
• Video and digital art can address social and political issues (race, gender, class) through the lens of technology
• The relationship between the virtual and the physical, and the blurring of boundaries between the two
• The fragmentation and malleability of identity in the digital age
• The environmental impact of technology and the role of art in raising awareness about sustainability

Impact on Contemporary Art

• Video and digital art have expanded the boundaries of traditional art forms and challenged institutional definitions of art
• The incorporation of video and digital elements has become increasingly common in contemporary art across various media
• The rise of video and digital art has led to the development of new exhibition formats and viewing experiences (video screenings, online exhibitions)
• Video and digital art have influenced the aesthetics and techniques of other art forms (film, photography, graphic design)
• The accessibility and reproducibility of video and digital art have challenged traditional notions of originality and authorship
• The global reach of the internet has enabled video and digital artists to engage with audiences across geographical and cultural boundaries
• Video and digital art practices have contributed to the growing emphasis on interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches in contemporary art

Notable Exhibitions and Institutions

• "TV as a Creative Medium" (1969) at the Howard Wise Gallery, New York, was one of the first exhibitions dedicated to video art
• The "New Media" exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art (1985) showcased early computer-based artworks
• The ZKM Center for Art and Media in Karlsruhe, Germany, is a leading institution for research and exhibition of video and digital art
• The "Bitstreams" exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art (2001) explored the impact of digital technologies on contemporary art
• The "Electronic Superhighway" exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery, London (2016), surveyed the history of internet art
• The "Programmed: Rules, Codes, and Choreographies in Art, 1965-2018" exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art (2018-2019) examined the use of instructions and algorithms in art
• The "Uncanny Valley: Being Human in the Age of AI" exhibition at the de Young Museum, San Francisco (2020), explored the relationship between artificial intelligence and human creativity