Inspiring Artists Extended Blog Post

From the beginning of modern art, there’s been much versatility in the world we live in. Most of everything is digitally empowered. Digital art is an art form itself and is the result of advancing technology in our world. Two modern artists that work directly with technology are Liu Dao and Alexa Wright. The two are similar in intention and movement, but also distinct from each other through the messages they send and how they portray their messages to an audience.

                Liu Dao is a group of artist who originated in Shanghai. The name is derived from the pinyin language, meaning Island 6. Before meeting to for this group, they were all on their own paths in the art industry. All of which are technicians. They first started as painters, sculptors, photographers, filmmakers, digital imaging artists, dancers and writers. The mix of culture and variety in this group makes the artwork more solid and stronger in appearance. The choice of medium is cultivating, as they tend to use LED lights. Liu Dao specializes in interactive art and they usually place their artwork in box frames, whether it is wood, metal, or any other material. The box gives much significance to preservation and gives the artwork a different effect. Most of the artwork done is of humorousness or political views of events going on in Asia. Two examples of their interactive art are called “Vigilance” and “An Oriental Arabesque”.



"An Oriental Arabesque"





"Vigilance"



Island 6 went up for grabs on their first art show in August 2010 at the Red Gate Gallery. They also have a partnership with the Red Gate Gallery in Beijing. These artists are so independent that they do their own curating of their art shows. Keeping up with the modern era is their main focus. Modernization is the key to staying relevant unless otherwise legendary to art history. Along with modernization, Island 6 strongly uses collaboration as a base. Everything that has been a success so far has been through teamwork and collaboration. One specific piece done by Island 6 that I admired was “Adrift in Shanghai’s Sin City/Make My Skin Crawl”. The mood and movement throughout the piece is very intriguing. It gives a sense of sexuality and style throughout it. This piece didn’t constitute any political matters, but did stand out systematically. This piece was also created with LED.

 "Make My Skin Crawl"



  

Now it’s time for Alexa Wright. She is an artist who is very explorative on human identity. She tends to put humans in a predicament to help identify themselves as well. Her concentration is digital interactive art, video, photography, and sound. She’s definitely well rounded alone. She has worked with a team of scientists to help with her projects. She’s personally become a scientist herself with her natural born curiosity to find out about the human body and actually pursue such discovery. One scientist she works most of her time with is Alf Linney. He helps to curate her projects as well. She’s not been recognized by a vast mass yet but she is making her mark widely by traveling across the world to show her talent.

 A few of her works include “Digital Aesthetic 3”, “Liverpool”, “The Definition of Self”, “Alter Ego”, and more. “Alter Ego” happens to be the piece that I enjoyed the most and it conjures up much conversation and reaction, in my point of view. 

 “Alter Ego” is a piece built to impersonate the audience. When one approaches the piece, the screen mirrors the appearance and interacts with the one in front of the screen. The mirrored depiction the screen is actually an avatar. Her intention is based solely on human identity. She expected the audience to give a reaction to this piece whether it is pleasing or dissatisfying, but it does help display how one feels about themselves.

Similarities/Differences





These two artists or groups of artists are both digitally aesthetic. Their use of technology speaks to their audience. From what we’ve read in class, these two groups try to experiment with tactical media as they incorporate politics and humanity into their artwork. Island 6 is successful in attracting attention to general and serious issues, but they aren’t so strong with politics. Alexa plays more with humanity, but she’s tied in serious matters with previous works she’s displayed internationally. Both are successful in conveying the serious issue going on in their community, but the question arises as “Do they move their audience and try to convince them in taking action in their communities?”

Even though similar, the two become different from each other in the approach they take as artists. Alexa Wright definitely approaches her audience head on to create immediate reactions such as her project she called “The Conversation piece.” In this piece she doesn’t appear in the background and she lets others come to it and speak to it. The piece itself speaks back and it corresponds directly with what you’re saying so this isn’t a programmed microphone that’s fixed to speak un-accordingly. Her attempts at contact never seem to fail.

As for Island 6, they take a more visual than interactive approach. They do design their pieces to move, but not so much to get an immediate reaction from the audience. I definitely feel that they will be blown up if they had done it for an immediate response. Their signature creations do still keep their fans following and I really admire that. They don’t stray too far to lose themselves in the art world.

Contacting My Artists







I contacted both of my artists, but neither gave a response back. I’m guessing the website in which I contacted Alexa Wright was an old profile that she doesn’t visit anymore. As for Liu Dao (Island6), I didn’t receive a direct response back from them, but instead they added me on Instagram and liked a photo I uploaded. The photo consisted of many photos in one frame and I think they liked it because it resembled their style of artwork (Boxes, still frames, different frames into one piece). I actually was a bit excited that I grabbed their attention in this manner. It pushes me to be more creative in my future artworks.  

Sources

• Wright. Alexa Wright. n.p. n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.
• Wright. Alexa Wright. Rhizome, n.d. Web. 11. Apr. 2013
• Stalbaum. Alexa Wright and Alf Finney, Alter EGO, At FILE 2007. Youtube. n.p, 1 Sept. 2007. 10 Apr. 2013
• "Liu Dao". Wikipedia. n.p., 17 Mar. 2013. Web. 10 Apr. 2013
• "Island6 Art Collective". Island6 Home of the Island6 Art Collective.Thomas Charvériat, Peter Bradt. 2011. FoldPress Publications. Web. 11 Apr. 2013
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