Manipulate This... Canadian Digital Art Exhibition

'Manipulate This' is an exhibition featuring the work of ten Stratford area artists, which expresses their vision of hybrid art. It explores the digital arts from the perspective of traditionally artistic backgrounds such as that of painting, sculpture, photography, drawing and printmaking.

A snippet from an exhibition announcement.
Arts writer Christine Walde comments on artists influenced by the new media arts:
“Artists have always employed the technologies of their time, and as the knowledge and usage of computers and digital technology increases, it is only natural that artists should incorporate this technology into their work, pushing the boundaries of their artistic practice. As a result, a new generation of artists are emerging, exploring technology at the root of its power. As the future pulls us forward, many artists feel they are compelled to follow in modernism’s footprints, propelled by the technology that carries them. In many ways, digital technology and new media is the new clay. But what’s most interesting, however, is when the technology falls away to reveal the art itself and the viewer is empowered.”

Glad to read that I'm not alone in this search...

An icon created again

Between these two Nike's lies more or less 2200 years. The one on the right is the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Originally she had marble hands and head and was an ode to the goddess of victory to remember a sea battle that was won.
The left picture is placed in Sicily on the shore of Naxos where the first greek colonists arrived. Because of its famousness it uses the image of the former as we know it but it tells us the opposite.
This new bronze version is a more graphic, less threedimensional, sculpture. The movement and empty space gives it a fragile look, as of a deteriorated leaf. It shows that however big the moment was at some time in history, time itself will bring down those moments. So we build monuments and statues to remember - even to remember the transitory.
It's a visually strong artwork with one flaw - there are two disturbing reinforcements for the wings (not shown in this picture).

About the original Nike...

Don't call it ‘Art’ when it is something else

Beside ‘Art’ there are other modes of visual expression and it may be hard sometimes to distinguish them from each other.
Try looking at the the way different creations communicate with people. They can use the same means but their starting point and goal are quite different.

This pyramid can help you see their hierarchy. Starting from the material level it goes over the mental to the spiritual top. These levels are not closed.

At the base are the designers (architects, industrial and graphic designers) who translate the wishes of their clients while others have to execute their creations.
The image makers (illustrators, photographers and film directors) can create their own vision into a visual form. Which is an in between stage that can connect more with art (free) or more with design (commissioned).
The artists prime source is the ‘intuitive’, his inspiration (‘in spiritus’ - from the spirit) that comes from a higher level, not his own thoughts. He act as a ‘medium’, a mediator between that higher level and the viewer. The result of his work, which he alone is responsible for, can take the viewer, when he is open for it, to the level he is trying to express.

Each of this levels need of course talent, feeling and technical knowledge (in short: competence). But we should distinguish them among each other because they have another goal besides (hopefully) a beautiful combination of form, color and matter.

Some Flemish examples