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the need for galleries in a digital time

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Ben Kruisdijk

Joined:
16 Feb 2008

Friday 18 April 2008 1:57:55 pm

the need for galleries in a digital time

Hi,
This is my first topic I'm posting here, my reason for doing so is because I recently read an interesting post on an other website forum.
basically it was about how do people feel towards galleries now that we are entering a digital age with the use of internet as a promotional tool etc, are galeries still relevant etc.
I thought it would be good to have a similar discussion on this forum.

Ben

http://www.benkruisdijk.com

Sean Aita

Joined:
17 Apr 2007

Tuesday 22 April 2008 8:23:47 pm

Re:the need for galleries in a digital time

Hi Ben - interesting post - have you looked at the saatchi online gallery? it is the first real attempt to encourage a major shift away from building based galleries for new artists - the opportunity to upload whatever you want to, and the sheer number of hits the site gets make joining it worthwhile - However all of us will still want to attend galleries in the physical world simply because the sensation of things like installations can't be captured on the net - also the visceral quality of being close to 3d sculpture or to see the paint on the canvas when faced with an art work will always mean there is a place for actual galleries.

Ben Kruisdijk

Joined:
16 Feb 2008

Thursday 24 April 2008 5:16:05 pm

Re:the need for galleries in a digital time

Hi Sean,

Thanks for the reply, I have once looked at the saatchi site, although I do think it's to much art for me, meaning that a lot of people are on it and not everything is of the same quality, however my last visit was maybe two years ago so I'm not sure how things are now.

I do agree that the digital art world will not be able to replace the real life experience of seeing work, like sculpture etc.
Still I do find it of interest that galeries are strategically using the internet and also that some artists are now making work that is only available on the internet (gilbert & george and the chapman brothers have done this on the BBC art site).

Still a lot of stuff to discus about, I hope.

best regards,
Ben

http://www.benkruisdijk.com

Milena Placentile

Joined:
16 Jul 2007

Sunday 18 May 2008 7:35:35 pm

Re:the need for galleries in a digital time

So, Ben, you're talking about online spaces that are curated, perhaps?

I, personally, don't think online galleries can every truly communicate projects that weren't intentionally designed for the web to begin with. Painting, drawing, performance, installation, video... all of it is designed with time and space considerations in mind, and artists realize very particular specifications when installing in real environments. Even video that was meant to be screened as a projection doesn't make sense on a monitor in your living room or office.

But, all that formal stuff aside, I'm also interested in galleries as types of community centres -- places where people engage with work, but especially engage with one another through public programming such as talks, workshops, group discussions, screenings, or other types of events that are related to the themes raised in the exhibition. For example, I'm just about to present an exhibition about work/life balance. I would have loved to have an evening session about stress management hosted by the gallery with a panel of speakers including a naturopath, a registered massage therapist, a nutritionally, and/or some other type of holistic practitioner who's entire job these days is based on helping people relieve the problems with their bodies and minds that arise as a result of overwork.

I don't see art as something to just look at quietly and passively, but as something that starts conversations or launches people into new ways of thinking about every day conventions.

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