New Media Art: Introduction
New Media Art
According to the author, New Media Art was primarily centered around the emergence of the internet and digital technologies, acting as new platforms for artistic expression. The authors highlighted the transformative nature of the Internet and how artists began to use it as a medium to carry out innovative ideas.
In comparison, from my point of view, New Media Art refers to artworks that are free from the restrictions of canvas and brushes, and take advantage of the updated platforms. Since technology is constantly changing and innovating, the internet is not the only stage for New Media Art.
The Changing Conception of New Media Art
The conception of New Media Art has evolved year by year. Today’s New Media Art contains a broader range of technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence (AI). These technologies have not only provided artists with new mediums but also have influenced the themes and narratives they explore. At the same time, the rise of social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Bilibili has shifted the audience’s focus toward fragmentation art forms. On the other hand, Video games, especially indie games, have been recognized as a form of New Media Art. Due to the mixture of storytelling, visual art, and interactivity, they are also called the ninth art.
Art Historical Antecedents, Themes, Tendencies
Revisiting Feminist Art by Cornelia Sollfrank
Cornelia Sollfrank’s “Revisiting Feminist Art” is a profound engagement collecting feminist performance art. This project is not merely a homage but a critical inquiry into the relevance and impact of these early feminist artworks within the current socio-cultural context.
Annette Messager’s “Les Approches”(This is an artwork in the project of Revisiting Feminist Art)
Description:
In “Les Approches,” Annette Messager reversed the male gaze by photographing men on Parisian streets. Particularly, she focused on their attire to comment on the objectification typically experienced by women. The parts that the camera focused on fully show the distress of women under the male gaze, which was full of irony
Background:
Messager is known for her exploration of identity and societal roles through photography, installation, and drawing.
Context:
The reinterpretation of “Les Approches” with digital technology probes the shifts in voyeurism and surveillance in the digital age. The project questions the dynamics of watching and being watched, a particularly sharp inquiry in an era of widespread digital tracking and social media.
Grandma’s Boy by Allan Kaprow
Description:
“Grandma’s Boy” is a compelling installation by Allan Kaprow that exemplifies his innovative approach to art. The structure, built into a wall, is composed of assorted objects with a mirror in the center. As viewers see themselves in the mirror, they become unsuspecting participants, thus fulfilling the artwork’s purpose.
Background:
Allan Kaprow was a crucial figure in the postwar American art scene. His contributions to the development of “Environment” and “Happening” were groundbreaking. In addition, he blurred the lines between art and life. Over time, his work evolved into “Activities,” which were smaller-scale, more intimate works that continued to explore everyday human actions and interactions.
Context:
The inclusion of photographs of unknown figures combined with personal memorabilia suggests a narrative that is both specific and universal. The mirror which is placed in the center invites the viewer to become part of the assemblage, letting them go into the narrative. In other words, the installation is not just a static object to be viewed but a dynamic space that requires the viewer’s presence to be complete. In this artwork, the distinction between the art and the audience is increasingly blurred, and the process and the involvement of the audience are the same important in the final product.