Even though Singapore’s digital art festival is using an archaic word to name itself, the work presented at the event is decidedly cutting edge.
The Betwixt Festival puts works by recent graduates and those who have still yet to graduate from school, all with abundant experience in the world of digital art, creating a rich collection of innovative art for viewers that range mostly young. The word “betwixt,” an old moniker for “between,” was picked on purpose by organizers of the event to debunk the idea that digital art comes from the future. In reality, digital art is all around us, at every moment, very much a part of modern life.
The festival spotlights loads of different types of interactive digital art, including one display in which participants can stand in front of a projection and “gather” digital letters simply using their body forms. The optics conceived by the artist of the exhibit showcases the idea of reactive art — or, art that reacts when a viewer participates with it.
Another interactive exhibit is a QR code within a frame, which redefines the art of portraits in terms of geolocation tracking. It also explores the ideas of smartphones as devices for portraits — as many people use them to take self-portraits, or selfies — and the data collection that adds another dimension to the practice.
Other exhibits present throughout the festival include a clock that doesn’t quite tell time in a traditional notion, works by secondary school students that came about via a workshop hosted by the festival’s organizers, and a hashtag collection of memories. The Betwixt Festival will also feature lectures, panel discussions, and classes to help all those interested learn about optics and reactive art. Many of the talks centered on such issues as women, art, and technology, as well as digital art in the Southeastern Asian region. These broad topics were complemented by individual talks by the artists themselves, speaking on their personal experiences with digital art. This digital arts festival looks to be a savvy addition to Singapore’s ever-expanding collection of art festivals and events. Organizers gave a tease to next year’s festival’s name in what could be an insight into Singapore’s efforts to become a technologically advanced “smart city.”
Digital art is simply one more facet of the wide world of artistic genres. Artists can create digital art while coding on computers, using art apps on iPads or other smart devices, or even trying out graphics apps on their smartphones. If you’re in any way interested in technology and art and all combinations of the two, consider signing up for a class on digital art today via SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is a website that consolidates listings of art classes and connects students with expert teachers for an incredible learning experience. Your teacher will be able to lead you through whichever projects most interest you.
For more on the digital art fair, go to http://www.themalaymailonline.com/features/article/a-look-at-betwixt-festival-singapores-first-homegrown-digital-arts-festival.