‘Technology is the mortal enemy of art’

(100 Artists’ Manifestos: From the Futurists to the Stuckists 2011)

I believe this quote is somewhat true and untrue as nowadays technology plays a huge role in the way artists create their work. Artists are using new medium transitioning from traditional materials such as painting, drawing and sculpture into using 3D software, Adobe Photoshop, illustrator etc. Previously, photographs that were taken were in black and white and were taken on a device that was not portable. But due to advance in technology, photographers are now able to take high quality photographs through a device that is lighter and can be taken wherever we go. A quote that Karl Lagerfeld mentioned was ‘What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.’ (Eric Wilson 2007) I believe it is due to technological change that has allowed as to capture high quality moments that are special to us.

The short film ‘Terminal Bar’ that documents a bar in New York, featured the photographs that were taken over a decade allowed the viewer to see the changes that has happened. The photographs that was taken are high quality which enables the viewer to look into the soul of the individuals through their eyes and read the emotion on their faces. With the advance in internet, people from all across the web are able to see the changes that has occurred, through social media and people sharing the short film.

However, I believe that technology has distorted the way artist create their work through using editing software that hides the flaws that they don’t want the audience to see.

•  DANCHEV.A (2011), 100 Artists’ Manifestos: From the Futurists to the Stuckists, Penguin Classic

• WILSON.E (2007), In Orbit Around Lagerfeld, Nytimes.com [Online] Available at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/fashion/shows/25ROW.html

[ Accessed 24 Oct. 2017]

• Terminal Bar (2002), Short Film, Directed by Stefan Nadelman, Available at:

[ Accessed 24 Oct. 2017]