The art industry is facing changes and the new art trends 2021 (and beyond) are related to digitization. The shift to digital art is not a new thing and has been a big art trend since the 60s. But, no surprise 2020 boosted art digitalization, especially the way events or art venues operate (and they operate virtually). If virtual art and all that top-notch art technology were considered as innovation and the future of art’, after 2020, art digitization is an obligation that helps to survive.
All these changes brought a positive impact as well. I had an opportunity to visit virtual exhibitions or watch the Vienna opera for free. Of course, I am thriving to visit museums and exhibitions physically, but, I am not sure when I have an opportunity to visit Mexico for the Frida museum, so good I had an opportunity to walk there virtually. Museums became closer to the public, they virtually opened their doors, and this is definitely good PR for them. While people globally became more connected and have access to more art venues. This new digital art world is our new reality.
Art is on the way to a new era, the era of digital art, VR Art, virtual exhibitions, art startups, and more…And, I am more than sure that all these digital initiatives will skyrocket interest in and demand for Art.
1. Online art and virtual exhibitions or events
Art venues and art industry representatives have to offer digital alternatives to communicate with their audience. With no access to cinemas, we watch new movie releases online and even pay for online concerts. As performers want to attract more people to online concerts or performances, they need to create unique experiences.
For example, Billie Eilish’s “Where Do We Go? The Livestream” was sold out, and used the art approach to the way she performed. Online, artists have more opportunities to create something outstanding. And, tickets can have lower prices reaching out to more people.
Rolling Stones describes Billie’s concert – “Eilish performed from a studio stage in Los Angeles, but the show spanned cities, oceans, and worlds with its rapid-fire visuals. For “You Should See Me in a Crown,” the singer walked circles underneath a bus-sized spider, and during “Everything I Wanted,” a wall of fans’ faces came up to join Eilish on stage; later, she was devoured by the hulking white teeth of an animated shark, before reemerging to sing from the moon.”
So, why not make digital concerts or events? Yes, we used to watch free youtube videos or subscribe to streaming services, but paying for online entertainment is still not something common. But, we are about to change our attitude towards online performances or exhibitions, as we can have a unique digital experience.
2. Isolation
The world has become more introverted. The isolation is reflected in art. Can’t believe I am saying this but we have a ‘trend on isolation in culture’.
Göteborg Film Festival 2021 offers an outstanding experience -“1 person. The ocean. And 70 film premieres”. The isolated cinema on Pater Noster Island is located in a remote location on the very edge of the archipelago, is one of Sweden’s most barren and windy places. A lonely lone film fan experiences complete isolation from the outside world. No phone, no family, no friends. Just the sea and the film program of the festival of 60 film premieres. For seven days. The chosen participant is an emergency nurse on the front line in the fight against Covid-19, Lisa. And, you can watch her diaries now.
This is very interesting. And what next to watch?
It looks like one or the other #museum will have to update its #collection@artinstitutechi#BernieSanders https://t.co/VnYGWH5T12
— Karsten Neumann (Bethang) (@Bethang_KN) January 21, 2021
National Gallery exhibition “out of isolation: artists respond to covid-19“.
Detail of Flatlands, 2020
3. VR Art and art trend on AR
And now imagine, you are visiting an art exhibition from the comfort of your home and walking inside the venues and museums just thanks to VR technology. Once, I’ve visited an incredible VR art exhibition, and I was able to draw whatever I like and then walk through my paintings…So, you can create your own art reality and take a look at new realities in the art world.
Another prediction of the future of art is VR exhibitions. As we have more access to virtual events, museums and exhibitions, why not doing it with VR technology.
Our VR exhibitions provide an experience that is as close as possible to an actual museum visit. Viewers can move around the museum and when they approach an artwork, they can enlarge it Kang Jae-Hyun, chief curator of the Savina Museum of Contemporary Art.
According to Artsy, ‘virtual reality has hit the mainstream seemingly overnight’.
The New York Times posts daily 360° videos and has a virtual reality app, 200,000 developers are registered with Oculus to create VR games, and the Hirshhorn created a VR version of Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrors exhibition. These organizations, among others, are seeing the incredible potential of VR technology.
4. A trend on cyberpunk?
Cyberpunk quickly became an art trend, and the new game Cyberpunk 2077 just proved that. I noticed that many new music videos and music performances are cyberpunk alike. Remember the latest Lady Gaga’s music videos or even J.Balwyn. We again watch Blade Runner and cyberpunk is reflected in the new movies, music, and fashion (at least street fashion).
5. Will art become more depressive?
This is the question I ask myself. Economic crisis and the crisis of the art industry itself will cause a fleur of sadness in the artists’ work. Another prediction is the opposite, after years of lockdown, people will try to forget everything and ‘swing’ like it was in post-war eras. ‘A great cultural depression‘ is the term by NYtimes; a big amount of unemployed workers in the cultural sector can impress the experience they had during isolation and crisis. The feeling of despair and loneliness – are they going to be our next art trends?
6. AI in art
Once Elon Musk said that AI can create a better painting than human… This is a portrait made by AI and sold for $432,000, is it that good?
According to Gartner Research, 80% of new technologies will be based on artificial intelligence by 2021. This is just the beginning. By 2025, the market for wearable artificial intelligence devices will reach $ 180 billion. 40% of executives believe that the most important benefit of artificial intelligence is the provision of data that can be used to make decisions.
Anyway, the trend is growing as we like when robots or programs do stuff, including art, so in the nearest future, they will still be on hype.
7. Digital art
Digital art is not only digital paintings on the laptop or tablet but digitalization of art performances. The World’s first digital art museum lights up Tokyo, Japan allows people to walk through digital art installations (and it was in 2018). Another example is the well-known Paris Atelier de Lumieres (I was lucky to visit just before lockdown and will make a blog soon).
I am sure that after we wake up and go out, the world of art will never be the same, and I predict a positive art future. People adapted to changers and embraced new technology to overcome all hardship we had and will have in the post-COVID era, and create a new art world.
Stay positive and adore art!
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