Thanks for talking about the layers, and expectations and audiences. I remember in 1999 when we envisioned the TechLab, our expectation was to work with artists who had internalized their understanding of technology and coding - and could manipulate it as easily as a pencil. Seven years later it hasn't been our experience - inevitably artists are pushing the capacities of technology - and the learning is constant, and intense.
Its not simple to categorize artists using technology or audiences interested in looking at new media artworks - because their expectations vary, and grow. Expectations complicate things. I wouldn't say computation has been at the heart of new media art - but rather of technology. And yes, the construction/design of code, can also be an artwork - an artwork making artwork, and art work. The existence of this list serve is evidence of the struggle to maintain a kind of expertise in the face of constant change in the tools and capacities of technology, let alone the manifestation of digital artforms. And not all curators working with digital media come from a video background - some, like me, were drawn in from an interest in kinetic sculpture.
Most artists we've worked with now create a team to produce their artwork - and as they struggle with not having complete control, I see them having to learn coding, or seeking alternative strategies to make their work. Would their art, or their self definition be discredited because they're not engaged in their work's computation? We've received proposals of what might be considered technology rather than art, from computer scientists, rather than artists. We've received exhibition proposals from artists where their expectation is for the museum to provide all the technical infrastructure, including the coder to realize their idea. We've found ourselves necessarily, and uncomfortably, deeply involved with artists using digital medias in the production of their work for exhibitions.
Expectations can be surprising. We've had negative feedback from youth when we've shown videos - they're frustrated they don't get the remote to control their viewing experience like they do at home, or get to hear the "director's commentary." Media is changing expectations of media. We're making constant compromises/choices between where we'll invest our resources because we're trying to fit digital media within the context of all other contemporary art forms without an increase in our budget. Where does a generalist art museum fit within the expectations of digital media art? The priority, at least from my perspective and from the feedback I've received from artists, is to keep flexible, open and in service to artists, who, more than anything, want a space that will help them exhibit new media work. The TechLab, when used as a residency/studio, has ended up being a really useful place because its where artists, audiences and curatorial staff experience and learn more about the technical architecture, the computation, being built.
Liane Davison
Curator of Exhibitions & Collections
Surrey Art Gallery
www.arts.surrey.ca
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