Technologically influenced art

Cole Jamieson's Surfboards. Photo/supplied

ARTIST Murray Clode is pulling together works that will challenge our thinking about the involvement of technology in art.

The exhibition will be shown during the Tauranga Arts Festival and in keeping with the theme of the exhibition, it will be viewed via Google's online view of art galleries throughout the world, the Google Cultural Institute. Clode believes this is a first for a Tauranga exhibition.

Every piece will be accompanied by additional content available via an augmented reality system and by a QR code. This is definitely an exhibition where you will be encouraged to get your smartphone out and get involved. "This is not just for those into technology though, the art will stand on its own merits - it will be amazing".

Clode says technology has a huge influence on our world and it also has an influence on how artists see and portray our world. "It has given artists new mediums to express themselves and new observations to make on our interaction with the world," he says.

Technology has long been part of art - photography - and you can claim that nearly everything is technology in some way.

So what will be in this exhibition?
Clode points out that paper was once technology but a bit more ancient than what they are looking for - not that he has restricted anything to the 20th Century or newer; even no longer used or forgotten technology can be used or featured in the work. Technology that doesn't even exist also fits the criteria.

The exhibition concept provides a range of possibilities for artists of any medium - even the traditional mediums.

"I have just one test," says Clode. "Would the art exist if not for the technology depicted or the technology used to help create or deliver the art?"

Clode ran this exhibition at the 2013 Arts Festival and has promised us bigger and better this year. A small team of volunteers and enthusiastic supporters are helping him pull it together this year.

The variety and calibre of the artists that are involved already bodes well for a groundbreaking exhibition; works already include video installations, digital art, audio installations, sculptures, gaming art, projection art and high technology photography.

A lot of the work will be interactive and involve the audience in ways that only technology can. Established artists such as Lipika Sen and Prabhjyot Majithia (of Tricky Boxes fame) and new artists including Cole Jamieson are already involved along with 20 others.

"Like last time we have artists that have never exhibited before - giving them an opportunity to show their work is one of the reasons for doing this exhibition," he says.

The opportunity for the arts community to contribute more is still available with the organisers wanting to see some robots, some data interpreted into art, pixelated art, visions of the future, 3D printed art and some Gif art.

the fine print
What: Art of Technology
When: October 16- November 6
See: www.artoftech.nz