Art and Technology. Most people would never think to add the two subjects together. The Art world is seen as liberal, emotional and overall expressive. Whereas the realm of Technology is observed as more direct, mathematical and logical. But when advances are made within the Technology world, there are reactions from artists. They either take the technology and utilize it for the advancement of their art, or rebel against it; making commentary for thought on the impact of certain technologies on the public’s everyday lives. Certain technologies have also created new types of career opportunities for artists, searching for a creative way to earn a living. The reactions of new technologies within the art world have varied throughout the years. Beginning with photography in 1827, when Joseph Niépce took the first known photo. This caused interest in both the arts and sciences, as it was a scientific advancement as well as a new medium for artistic expression and fulfillment. The interest in this technology has stood the test of time, as photography is still one of the most popular outlets for expression as well as documentation and study. Gerhard Richter, a German born artist explored further how photography affected the way the public viewed reality, through his painting, “180 Farben” (“180 Colors”) from 1971. The way this painting can be described is a super close up of a color photograph, where all the colors are compartmentalized; each color is simply a box on a grid. This displays a more rational way to approaching art, and what the viewer is meant to see. A more technically inspired way of expressing one’s opinions and emotional reactions. The technology of video impacted the art world as well. Andy Warhol was one of the pioneers in this fashion. He was fascinated with film, and took pleasure in creating films himself. His film, “Empire” from 1964 stands out as a reaction to the progression of popularity from one technological advancement to the next. This film displays the Empire State Building; a stationary object typically photographed, on film for eight hours straight, the only climax being when the lights would turn on. Mr. Warhol flipped the roles of photography and film to prove his point. The purpose of this was to watch “time go by” <Rosenberg, NYMAG> as Mr. Warhol described it. A commentary on what American’s were now spending their time on. As opposed to having a walk in the park, reading a book, or simply sitting at a café, enjoying a cup of coffee and experiencing life from a first-person point of view, Americans would rather contemplate the passing of precious time on film, simply because it was on film: this is the new American obsession. Nam June Paik, known as the “Father of Video Art” comments further on America’s new obsession with the technology of television, and how quickly Americans feel the need to obtain their information. His installation, “Electronic Superhighway: Continental U.S” from 1995 displays the United States outlined in neon lights on a wall. Within the individual states are television sets, each displaying something indigenous to that specific state. The purpose of this displaying that if a viewer knew nothing about a state, they could simply observe for a few moments on a television screen and take away a snippet of information about that state. Thus presenting further how the technology of television has impacted the way in which the World obtains its information; quickly and mostly without depth. The invention of the Internet and the World Wide Web has caused a speculatory observation with certain artists. With the release of the World Wide Web to the public in 1992, the way the world communicated and functioned changed forever. This tool for communication and information would soon become a necessity for every day life. In 1998, Mark Napier explored how the internet system could easily be manipulated with his “Shredder” program. This program off of the website, <www.potatoland.com>, allows the viewer to enter any website into the system, and as the title suggests, shreds it; disorients it. Thus displaying how fragile the communication process within the internet is: displaying the delicate backbone upon which much of our trust is placed upon today. Mr. Napier was trained and practiced as a software programmer for fifteen years, which explains his knowledge of this particular medium, and expertise in executing such programs. His personal fascination with this technology is evident, and his art causes the viewer to become more aware of the technology they utilize everyday. The reactions from artists display both positive and negative connotations surrounding the advancements in technology. Certain artists however manipulate certain technologies on a daily basis, in order to earn a living. The world of graphic design utilizes software of a computer in order to do something creative. This field of work provides an imaginative way for artists to make a living who prefer to steer clear of the “starving” stereotype. Graphic design is a versatile field of work that includes dealings with mostly everything printed: advertisement, web design, newspaper and magazine production, interior design, even reaching to the ultra creative sectors of video game composition and video animation for television and movies. Considering the ways in which the World’s population obtains its information, as well as how the World unwinds with video games and animated films, its safe to say this line of work will mostly always have a large demand for artists whom of which would rather hone their imaginative powers into something constructive, geared towards the consumer culture that grips today’s world. Ms. Cathrin Yoder of the Arts’ Institutes International explains, “Employers are looking for trained creative individuals who also demonstrate a passion and enthusiasm for building these interactive worlds” <Art and Technology…>. A combination of this internal passion of the artist is necessary in this field, as well as the meticulous training and study of the materials is needed to succeed with this career. Technology and art, in the past, have been compared as oil and water: they simply don’t mix. But with the further advancements in technology, more jobs are created to slake the appetite of the consumer culture for bigger, better and more creative ways of looking at everyday life through advertisements, newspaper and magazine layouts, video games and film. Reactions to new technologies are still pouring through the art world; artists trying to come to grips with the fast paced world media that bombards the world everyday. Trying to expand the minds of their viewers, to take each new technology with a grain of salt, considering the fragility of each system, or with the opinion that life should be lived out from behind the television screen. In any attitude, the arts and technologies are mixing, creating new relationships with one another, and new outlooks and lifestyles for each new generation to come.

Works Cited

Kristula, Dave. “The History of The Internet”. March 1997. Retrieved February 15th, 2009. www.davesite.com/webstation/net-history.shtml.

Leggat, Robert MAM. Ed PhD. 1995. “ A History of Photography from its Beginnings Till The 1920’s”. Retrieved February 5th, 2009. http://www.rleggat.com/photohistory/index.html .

Miller, Eric. “What is Graphic Design?”. Retrieved February 14th, 2009 from About.com. http://graphicdesign.about.com/.

Rosenberg, Karen. November 15th, 2004. “A Controversy over ‘Empire’”. New York Magazine. Retrieved February 5th, 2009. http://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/art/10422//

Yoder, Cathrin. “Art and Technology: Creative Careers for the 21st Century”. Arts Institutes International Website. Retrieved February 10th, 2009. www.he.courses-careers.com/technology.htm .

Notes from Ms. Margaret Richardson’s Art History 374 (Art Now) Class. George Mason University, Fall Semester 2008. Retrieved December 2nd, 2008.