Stikkord
Abstract art, Andy Warhol, Computer Art, Graphic Art, Graphic Design
According to Murray (2010), new technologies have arisen from a wider need for improvement in social, economic and global context. Murray states that «every modern and contemporary artistic movement has in some way responded to its influence» (p.18). Further Murray writes that implementing new technology has always had a history of conflicting views among artists, critics, philosophers and literary figures. This was also the case at the Bauhaus, a German design school and group of artist and designers that until late 20’s had ignored what happened outside their own building (Bretschneider, 2012). “Art had been fused with craft, but not with industry” (quotation by Droste cited in Bretschneider, 2012). As a survival strategy, Bauhaus became renewed with members such as Moholy-Nagy and Josef Albers who both were pro the adoption of new techniques and new media . As a result of this attitude change, what Bauhaus designed in their latest epoch were of much more practical character aimed for industry and mass production (instead of singular produced handcrafted pieces of art). Accordingly, the design, became more «characterized by simplicity, refinement of line and shape, geometric abstraction, primary colours and the use of new materials and technologies” (Quotation by Dempsey p. 133 cited in Bretschneider, 2012 p. 7).
Goodman (1990),says that up to 1990, despite its ‘endless’ possibilities, there was still a vast scepticism towards blending the new technology and art. People may ask the question: «Computer art: is it art?» (p.252).
On the other hand, some artists that were pro the use of technology in art even contributed to its further development. Among these were John Whitney, who programmed an application called «Digital Harmony» to be run on an IBM PC AT . John Whitney is known for his many abstract art videos (see previous blog entry ABSTRACT ART created by the use of NEW TECHNOLOGY (1) (Goodman, 1990).
Other artists were just adventures and did not only touch those applications that was meant to be used in art. An example of such art work was the self-portrait made by Andy Warhol, with the help of a AMIGA 1000, a popular «Commodore International» machine (Fig 1). From 1985 until his death in 1987 Warhol experimented with creating art by the use of print screens in combination with photos and merging layers of various textures (Carter 2014). About working with this media Warhol says: «The thing I like most about doing this kind of work on the Amiga is that it looks like my work in other media.» (quotation cited in Goodman p.248).
References:
Bretschneider, M. (2012). The Bauhaus: Understanding its History and Relevance to Art Education Today.. East Tennessee State University.
Carter, A. (2014). New Warhol works revealed via forensic retro-computing. TRIB. [online] Available at: http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/6001662-74/warhol-computer-images#axzz2zttXoKAw [Accessed 24 Apr. 2014]
Goodman, C. (1990). The Digital Revolution: Art in the Computer Age. Art Journal, 49(3), p.248.
Murray, S. (2007). New Media Anxiety: Art History and the Problem of Modern Technology. Ph. D. Cornell University.
Image sources:
Figure 1: Andy Warhol (1985) Andy2 [Computer Art] At: http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/6001662-74/warhol-computer-images#axzz2zttXoKAw (Accessed on 15.12 2014).