Aura
The digital world, like a magical aura amplifying reality
Alix Bugat @aquabubz
Parallel world
The population of digital natives is increasing each day, and the World Wide Web has become an integral part of nearly everyone's life in the present era. It's like a parallel world that we can access through our magical black mirrors. To fully immerse ourselves in it, we are constantly pushing the boundaries by inventing technologies such as AR goggles and haptic devices.
Recently, with the emergence of the Metaverse, NFTs, DAOs, and various other concepts that are often poorly understood, there's been a feeling that the digital world might swallow us forever and it even became a bit scary.
But I don't think this will ever come true. Instead of scary, I find this alternate reality to be rich and full of inspiration. It gives us the opportunity to stretch the boundaries of reality, constantly questioning and igniting our creativity. Deep down, we will always have the desire to connect with the tangible world, life, and nature. It's at the very core of our being. Therefore, I see the digital world as more of a magical Aura that amplifies and enhances our experience of reality.
Johanna Jaskowska @johwska
David Uzochukwu @daviduzochukwu
Decentralization
While terms like Metaverse and NFTs have been tossed around and often misunderstood, I believe that the underlying essence of these concepts is actually amazing.
Sure, the early attempts at the Metaverse may have looked like a poorly executed online video game trying to push excessive consumerism. That was a clear failure. However, the emergence of Web 3, NFTs, and DAOs is primarily driven by one core idea: decentralization.
The younger generations, having grown up with the internet, refuse to be controlled by large corporations that monopolize everything. They refuse to simply wander passively through the internet like we did. Instead, they have taken it upon themselves to reclaim the Web for the people!
A few definitions :
WEB 3 : At its core, Web3 uses blockchains, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs to give power back to the users in the form of ownership. Web1 was read-only, Web2 is read-write, Web3 will be read-write-own. Read more
DAOs : Decentralized autonomous organizations. A DAO is a collectively-owned, blockchain-governed organization working towards a shared mission. Read more / Exemple : GORJS DAO by NYX.
Fuelled creativity
What I really like about the digital world is its ability to ignite creativity. With the advent of new software, artists are able to experiment with textures and shapes that can't be replicated in the physical world. It opens up endless possibilities to elevate and explore various crafts, such as fashion, without the limitations imposed by reality.
But what I find particularly enriching is when the realms of digital and physical merge through technologies like AR, face filters, and even 3D printing. It's in this convergence that reality becomes amplified, enabling us to challenge and question the very boundaries that define it.
Caroline Vang @carolinevang
Digital Gals
A topic close to my heart that I would like to highlight is how female and queer artists are taking over the digital world. For too long this field has been a “dude” field, messy and full of toxic masculinity. Let me tell you that this time is over for good !
Communities like Softer Insta are proposing a softer and more accessible approach to the Digital by promoting female and Queer artists and a '“softer digital future”.
An other example is World of Women, an NFT collection featuring 10,000 digital artworks by women from diverse backgrounds. The project celebrates female representation and diversity in the NFT space.
Digi Gxl is also a community promoting “womxn, intersex, trans folk & non-binary people - specialising in digital design, 3D & XR”. They propose a completely different aesthetic exploring the female body and sexuality breaking free from societal taboos.
Polina Zinziver @polina_zinziver_ featured by @digi.gxl
Dutch Invertuals 'Objects for a New Kind of Society: The way we work' @dutch_invertuals
What about AI ?
The latest hot topic in the digital world is the one of AI. As with any new development, people are understandably fearful and highly critical: "AI will steal creative jobs! It's a scam, not art!"
While it is true that shitty applications of AI, like Lensa app, are stealing the work of artists without their consent, the core point is to understand that AI is just a tool that can be used in many ways. In essence, the term AI is just a fancy word to talk about a sophisticated algorithmic software. In fact, if you think about it, even Excel is a form of AI.
About the question “Can AI be considered art” ? For me the answer is yes, big time.
It is an interesting topic because it raises the question of the role of the artist, the media and the message. Though, such debates have been happening for a long time. The same kind of question was raised when Duchamp placed a urinal in an exhibition and called it "The Fountain".
From my point of view, AI can definitely be used for Art. Artists have been embracing this tool and exploring fascinating subjects using AI software like Dall-E, Midjourney or Stable Diffusion. Here are a few examples of their work.
Ada Ada Ada
Ada Ada Ada (she/her) is an algorithmic artist based in Copenhagen working within an intersectional eco-feminist framework.
She uses hyped technologies like "artificial intelligence" to investigate how computational tech understands, emerges from and acts upon human bodies, with a particular focus on gender.
“For this experiment, I took four images from my in transitu project and asked Stable Diffusion to create variations on them without any textual prompt. The images are from various points in my gender transition, going from very recent to very early.”
Reiki Zhang
This work has been created by the digital artist Reiki Zhang using Dall E AI software.
“As a digital artist, 3D design allows me to bring my visions to life in a way that transcends the traditional medium of art. It offers an incredible opportunity to delve into an alternative reality that challenges traditional artistic boundaries and allows me to express my creativity in a unique and innovative way.”
says Reiki in an interview for Red Eye magazine.
Claudia Rafael
Claudia Rafael is a digital artist using AI to create unique artworks. She specializes in the intuitive development of unique conceptual and visual solutions in the field of music, fashion, art and culture.
She focuses on issues of technology, extended and mixed realities. Rafael is interested in investigating how, "digitalism forms new aesthetics"
Meta Magic
I see the digital realm as a kind of magical flow that enhances reality and allows us to explore and question it. It's a realm full of powerful women, Meta Witches using their craft to turn things around.
I would love to dedicate a show to this notion of Meta Magic and promote the work of female digital artists. Here is a curated selection of artists I would love to showcase, in addition to the ones you saw before.
The Aura SHOW
The digital world, like a magical Aura amplifying reality.
The Aura show embodies female power in the digital realm. It’s a collection of female designer artworks with a spiritual dimension challenging the very boundaries of reality.
COLOUR PALETTE
The Aura colour palette creates a mystical atmosphere by blending the warmth of the female body with a touch of cold virtual shimmer, merging flesh and pixels.
Caroline Vang @carolinevang
READ MORE
Eternal Lilac
HIGHLIGHT_
Why is the Lilac colour influencing the creative world since more than three years ?
October 2022