Mark Napier - Shredder(1998): http://www.potatoland.org/shredder/
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| Mika Ninagawa Official Site - http://www.ninamika.com/en/ |
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| Hong Kong Disneyland
"This work (Shredder) is typical of much digital art because it is an artwork that
places importance on......"
1. formal instructions
Digital art usually require instructions to work or function properly. The artwork can be completed insofar as following the required instructions. For example, in this case, Shredder needs the audience to put the link in to generate and eventually produce the picture, and so inserting web link is the instruction of this artwork. Only if putting in the link, the work can be properly processed.
2. the concept rather than the art object
The picture that Shredder produced may not have significant artistic value, someone may see it not an artwork because it is not visually adorable or simply not beautiful. But the main idea of the work should not be the pictorial outcome, instead, the most important idea is the concept behind. The concept of trying to look things through an alternative way by interpreting HTML code in another way in this work, can inspire the audience with a new attitude towards life. For example, I find that people may find
something good or surprising when they see things from different perspectives. Some of us are usually constrained by some "so-called" norms, so they seldom accept an alternative idea from others, but if they do so, they may find other possibilities that never been discovered. Or people can really learn about the nature of an object instead of deceiving by illusions. And this can make the human relationship more harmonious. Also, Shredder reminds us the advancement of technology and Internet which can help create many new and fascinating possibilities and ideas. Thus, the value of Shredder should focus more on the ideas expressed by the artist rather than the object itself.
3. the event and audience participation
In Shredder, audience participation is essential as the work can only be operated when audience enter the web link. When audience do nothing, then nothing can be shown from Shredder. And this is common in digital art and this even becomes a characteristic of digital art and a new developing trend of contemporary art. It is brilliant idea considering participation
of audience, because this can make the artwork more impressive and also expressive. Audience can get fun from the work and therefore catch more of their attention.
4. an interest in random events and/or chance
Shredder randomly breaks down the graphics or texts from the original website and reconstructs them in a new picture together. The picture is not controlled or managed wholly by the artist, but in a relatively random operating approach. Chance or contingency are interesting concepts that a lot of artists like to use, to see whether anything unprecedented but fascinating would happen by random process. Sometimes random action can create better outcome than being manipulated.
5. borrowing or appropriation
Appropriation means borrowing pre-existed images or objects and modified them as new work. Shredder uses the idea of appropriation by borrowing the graphics or HTML code from other existing websites and reform the images from those sites in a random and abstract way.
Is Shredder net art or not?
Net art is an art form that cannot exist without Internet. Internet is a tool for net art to properly function. The work I have chosen, Shredder, is definitely net art, because Shredder requires Internet to operate.It can only work when connected with Internet, since it utilizes the materials from other sites to produce the final image. Net art helps connect different ideas from Internet together, and sometimes even connect people with each other. That is what net art wants to achieve and the concept artists aim to convey.
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