The Constructivist Manifesto of 1922 documents the “rules” of the art movement, as stated by Rodchenko, Stepanova and Gan. They argue that “Technology is the mortal enemy of art”; I believe theres compelling points for both sides of this opinion.
Arguably, technology moves us further from ‘traditional’ art, specifically the usage of a variety of mediums and textures – ripping us away from the historical roots of art by stripping away the versatility of oil, pastel and clay and replacing it with a screen. It also limits our physical interaction with art – Berkely Breathed spoke of this phenomenon “I paint digitally now…the biggest price one pays is that you no longer have a finished piece of physical art to hang on a wall” (2007). I would argue the detail and texture of traditional art cannot be replicated through a screen and, from a Marxist standpoint, the cost of technology could make digital art an inaccessible medium for many.
However, technology gives artists undeniable advantages. Breathed continues “I don’t miss the three weeks it used to take to paint what I can do now in three days” – technology’s ability to speed up the artistic process with minimal effort is highly efficient. Furthermore, it means that art can be consumed by millions of people globally on the internet, for example Breathed’s own works (2015) which are now posted online – contextually, 20th century advancements in printing technology would have meant Constructivist art could be accessed easier also. I believe technology offers up many pathways for creativity – an endless plethora of resources, brush types and colours to utilise, and so is not the “mortal enemy” of art.
Bibliography:
- Breathed, B. (2007) Exclusive: Berkeley Breathed Speaks!. Interviewed by Jamie Reno for Newsweek, 3rd June. Available at: http://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-berkeley-breathed-speaks-100929 [Accessed 25/10/17]
- Breathed, B. (2015) Bloom County 2015. Bloom County 2015, July 20, 2015. [image] Available at: http://www.gocomics.com/bloom-county/2015/07/20 [Accessed 4/12/17]