Digital art
Digital forms of consumption are commonplace in music (think the iPod, streaming services), movies (Netflix, YouTube) and even books (Kindles, tablets).
Art however, particularly the kind that people tend to observe at galleries and hang up in their homes, is usually considered to belong to the ‘physical’ domain. Drawings, paintings, sculptures and the like.
The realm of Digital Art is growing at a rapid pace though, and in mind blowing fashion. Imagine having a digital ‘Canvas’ in your living room that displayed a variety of digital artworks, both still and moving. Now combine that with Blockchain technology, which allows you to prove the authenticity of the artwork, and you can fundamentally change the way in which pieces of art are created, distributed and valued.
I think this is going to revolutionise the way in which we perceive art, and am actively investing in both artists and the people building the infrastructure around it. With companies that manufacture digital canvases and marketplaces that host creations rapidly coming to market, this is a space to keep your eyes on.
Can you afford to disconnect?
In contrast to the previous topic, where I express clear excitement at the advent of digital art, the pandemic has made me worry about whether I can afford to disconnect from digital media and tools.
Many ancient traditions espouse a life of simplicity, living closely with nature and nurturing deep relationships. There’s a mountain of evidence which shows that these are the keys to a long and fulfilling life.
I’ve been trying to blend these timeless practices with modern advances, in a manner I consider to be successful. For example, taking walks in nature every day, regularly meeting with people close to me and periodically switching off devices.
But what if the only way to connect with family and friends, and nurture those relationships, is through digital means? What if accessing nature was dependant on travel, which isn’t available and may not be safe for a while to come? What if you can’t afford to ‘unplug’ and engage in deeper thought because your livelihood is dependant on being ever-present through digital means?
If you have any experiences or thoughts on the above, please reply and share them. It would be great to discuss them with you and think about healthy approaches to navigate these challenges.