The name of the exhibit was “Turn and Widen” (5th Seoul International Media Art Biennale.) Biennale is the art exhibit that opens every two years. The theme ”Turn and Widen” explains the art works that will be shown. First of all, through technical development, artists were able to incorporate many new ideas to their work. Not only that, this art exhibit is special in that it actively interacts with the audience, and can change depending on how the visitors view them. With that being said, new media artwork can be defined as a genre of art that uses 20th century technology such as digital art, computer graphics, computer animation, internet art, interactive art technologies, computer robotics, etc. This genre is in contrast with “old” media arts, such as traditional painting and sculptures. Traditional sculptures are usually manually made out of stone, metal, glass, wood etc and are often carved, built up, fired, and molded. On the other hand, New Media artworks are usually created from computers. I definitely think traditional sculpture and painting has place in art industry because they are often more delicate, and realisitic than technologically made artworks. I believe the old meadia arts have wider range of expression than new media arts do right now. Moving on, the curators of this art exhibit were from various countries. Maarten Bertheux from Netherland is currently working as a displayer at Stedelijk Museum. Tohru Matsumoto from Tokyo is in charge of display, education, and museum at the National Art Center Tokyo. Andreas Broeckmam from Berlin has worked for TELSA and Amsterdam Stedelijk Museum. Last but not least, Raul Zamudio from New York is working as not only a curator, but also as an art critic. Since everyone is from different environment, it would have been hard to choose the artworks to display. It is most likely that the curators choose artworks that would appeal to wide public from different countries or backgrounds.
The exhibit was divided into three parts: light, communication, and time. On the first floor, lights were artificially made by humans using technology. In literature, sunlight was often related to hope while darkness was referred to death or despair. But in modern times, where neon signs brighten up the dark streets, lights no longer put a definite line between hope or despair. Rather, it is used by artists to create a “unreal” environment that would draw in observers into the world of fantasy, imagination, ecstasy etc. Many artists use electromagnetic light to show variety of images and effects. Second floor allowed the visitors to actually get “involved” in the formation of art. Humans were able to develop through communication. At first from mouth to mouth, then through TV, computers, phones, etc, which later developed into a complete society.
The first art work I have chosen is the Last Riot by AES+F Group. This art work on the third floor in the theme of time. Through this piece, the artist predicted how teenagers would look like in the near future. It used time to show how artist can portray not only present, but also future. I really liked the message the artwork was trying to convey. The artist’s purpose of creating this art was to show how the young generation (people in 10s or 20s) are corrupted and spoiled by technology, especially the computers. That is why every person portrayed in this artwork has no facial expression, even though they are invovled in a rigorous fighting. Because of technological development, people are slowly loosing their human instincts such as feelings and communication. Less and less people are interacting with each other, but rather staying in their own space, using computers as their only way of communication. The artist predicts that people will eventually become like the characters in this art works, without emotions or thoughts.
The other piece is called “On the Edge” by Michael Angel Rios. This was also on the third floor. Throughout the video, as time passed by, it showed how the society is like right now. Using the white and black tops, the artist portrayed the present. The white tops represented the weak and powerless people, and the black tops represented the powerful and dominant people. As white people try to “invade” into the group of black tops spinning in the middle, the blacks block and push them away. It shows how the society is overruled by few powerful people, while the majority powerless people are ignored.
The last artwork I chose is “Breaking the News- Be a News Jockey” (internet-based interactive installation). This was displayed on the 2nd floor in the theme of communication. As I have mentioned, art works on the second floor allows the visitors to “finish” and change the art. The “Breaking News” allows people to type in anything they like, and the machine would automatically show pictures related to the subject I typed in. This is a perfect example of how the audience directly interacts with the art. Without the viewer typing in the words, the machine would be useless. This art piece, in particular, would be special to every individual because you can personally get involved. People from various backgrounds would be able to relate themselves to this art. For example, I typed in one of my favorite Korean singers, Rain, and I felt like this artwork is interacting with me.
