Artists: Embracing Future Technologies
My artwork is predominantly modern and abstract lino prints. A reason why my medium of choice is lino printing is due to my enjoyment of traditional, handcrafted techniques. While lino printing is my focus, I have a strong background in digital media. I have worked as a Web Designer, Web Developer and Digital Product Manager for a number of international media companies. As a result, I am fascinated by the intersection of art and technology. With this sense of intrigue, I have been investigating how, as a visual artist, I can embrace the new technologies that have been emerging over the last couple of years.
I realise for many artists, thinking about new technologies and all the different terminology can be really daunting, so I am here to help provide some background and clarity to ensure artists become more knowledgeable about this topic and to show the potential benefits to compliment an art practice.
An overview of future technologies
Artists have always found ways to incorporate new technologies into their work, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and creating new forms of expression. The current technological explosion has created a wealth of new opportunities to create and engage with various artforms, from the creation of digital art, through to the creation of immersive experiences in virtual worlds.
But there's another reason why artists should embrace future technologies: because they are the future. As technology continues to advance at pace, it's clear that it will play an increasingly important role in all aspects of our lives, including art. By getting ahead of the curve and embracing new technologies early on, artists can position themselves to be at the forefront of this new era of art.
I have gathered a lot of information and knowledge and I have prepared a series of blog posts to share this with you, to help with your own research into this topic. I have found that there are several terms that are used interchangeably but are in fact different to one another, such as Web 3.0, Decentralised, Blockchain, NFTs, Cryptocurrencies, the Metaverse and AI. I have investigated each of these within their own blog post, which you can view by clicking the links below.
What does ‘decentralised’ mean?
A term that comes up time and again when talking about new technologies is ‘decentralised’. To give some clarity around this term up-front, people are talking about decentralised in contrast to the current web, which is dominated by centralised services, controlled by a small handful or companies (e.g. Google, Apple, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft etc) that collect a huge amount of user data. ‘Decentralised’ means a shift in power and control back to the users. The aim is to create a more open and distributed web that is not controlled by any single entity.
Blog series - Artists: Embracing the Future Technologies
Part 1: How Artists can Embrace Web 3.0
Part 3: Cryptocurrencies: Why Artists Should Know About This Digital Asset
Part 6: How Do you Mint an NFT? A Brief Guide for Beginners
Part 7: Exploring the Metaverse: A Guide for Artists to Embrace a New Dimension of Creativity
