The landscape of video art has undergone a monumental transformation since its embryonic stages in the early 1960s, evolving through various phases and styles, from the experimental probing of its pioneers to the performative narratives in the ’80s and beyond. Today, we venture into the contemporary realm where the digital era reigns supreme, a domain intensely navigated by artists employing the latest in digital video, 3D software, and artificial intelligence to expand the horizons of visual storytelling and artistic expression. This evolution signifies not just a change in medium, but a drastic shift in how art interacts with, and is influenced by, the ever-changing technological landscape.
In curating our featured selections, particularly within the realm of 3D art, our focus was on artists whose work engages with narrative elements in a manner akin to video art’s foundational premises, albeit through innovative tools and platforms. These selections inevitably led us to omit the multitude of talented individuals creating looped visuals and digital environments, though they certainly warrant appreciation and can be explored further in our Guide to 3D.
The exploration of AI in art presented a rich tapestry of opportunities and a ‘wealth of riches’. Given the vast array of talent in this space, our endeavor to present a broad overview meant that many noteworthy artists could not be included in this survey. Yet, this selection aims to offer a glimpse into the diversity and innovativeness pervading this exciting frontier.
It’s important to note that while our journey today doesn’t traverse the landscapes of traditional animation, the exploration of 2D animation within the context of web3 is a topic we eagerly anticipate delving into in the future.
Video Artists in web3
Sarah Zucker
Los Angeles-based artist Sarah Zucker, recognizable online as @thesarahshow, marries humor, mysticism, and mythology with her adept use of both cutting-edge and bygone technologies. Zucker’s oeuvre spans several mediums, notably marked by her signature use of video synthesis and animation, with a pronounced penchant for analog video equipment. Her artistic expressions often manifest on VHS tapes, creating a digital-analog continuum that nostalgically bridges past and future aesthetics.
In her noted series “Four Caryatids,” now housed in the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Zucker reinterprets the classical Greek caryatid—traditionally a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support—into dynamic, digital avatars that embody facets of her creative ethos. These digital beings, named Vision, Thought, Wink, and Recursion, encapsulate Zucker’s artistic pillars while infusing humor and modern digital motifs into their classical forms.
Joe Pease
Originally hailing from Australia and now residing in Southern California, self-taught artist Joe Pease captivates with his surreal renditions of the ordinary, embedding the mundane aspects of human existence with layers of the uncanny and the surreal. Pease excels in transforming everyday scenes into spellbinding visual narratives that stimulate reflection and amazement. Works such as “All At Once” and “11:22 am” reinvent quotidian moments into hypnotic visual symphonies that reflect on time, routine, and the essence of human experience.
“Everything Is Temporary” further escalates this motif, presenting a protagonist engulfed by a world of surreal shifts and illogical transformations, emblematic of Pease’s unique visual style.
David Henry Nobody Jr.
New York’s own David Henry Nobody Jr., originally born David Henry Brown Jr., is a figure synonymous with provocative societal commentary, weaving humor, absurdity, and pointed critique through his performance and multimedia art. A self-trained artist, Nobody Jr. is famed for his ‘Resemblagè’—a term he coined for his method of creating elaborate self-transformations with everyday items, effectively critiquing consumer culture and the digital age’s impact on self-identity.
“My motivation is always to take the propaganda apart by literally wearing it myself on my body and living it as real life,” he states, encapsulating the essence of his approach. His work, including the striking “Trophy Boy” and the enthralling “Mental Marionette With Dancing Dogs,” challenges viewers to navigate the fine line between delight and disquiet.
tjo
Quebec’s tjo delves into the depths of mental health, particularly focusing on pure OCD and the broader human psyche. His art, rich in vivid visuals against stark contrasts of dark and crimson hues, serves as both a personal journey and a collective reflection on the trials of emotional and psychological adversity. Through collage, painting, and material destruction, tjo crafts a delicate balance between chaos and order.
His video series “Plaques and Tangles” embodies an immersive narrative on Alzheimer’s disease, portraying the progressive erosion of memory and identity. This ambitious project, over a year in the making, marries intricate set design with digital artistry to engender a profound audience engagement with the debilitating condition.
Video Artists Using 3D Software
Cool 3D World
Cool 3D World, the creative brainchild of digital artists Brian Tessler and Jon Baken, emerged in 2015 as a haven for the unconventional. This collaborative venture melds 3D animation with a distinctive, twisted visual narrative, producing bizarre alternate realities that fascinate and disconcert. Their works are a testament to their self-taught animation prowess and musical backgrounds, conjuring grotesque yet compelling universes that demand attention.
Quantum Communications
Quantum Communications, better known in the graffiti community as waxhead, has seamlessly transitioned to digital art amidst the solitude of COVID-19 restrictions. Leveraging tools like Blender and the MidJourney beta, Quantum forges a signature aesthetic infused with nostalgia and realism through a grainy, VHS-like texture. His compositions often explore ‘liminal spaces,’ those transitional realms laden with intrigue and unease, urging viewers to contemplate their surroundings anew.
LEViT∆TE
Los Angeles-based multimedia artist LEViT∆TE, recognized for his dual prowess in art and music, has carved a niche in CG/CGI, creating visual spectacles for renowned music labels. A seasoned performer, his tours across the US showcased an intoxicating blend of his musical compositions and proprietary visual content, culminating in the notable “Legacy” series—an ambitious audiovisual project that amalgamates an electronica music album with a video saga.
Logan Sprangers
Logan Sprangers, a multidisciplinary powerhouse from Los Angeles, traverses the domains of film, television, music, and advertising with unparalleled versatility. His work, rich in narrative depth and stunning compositional beauty, draws from a diverse array of influences. Sprangers’ 2021 masterpiece, “We, the Gods,” pays a nuanced homage to the surreal and the metaphysical, drawing inspiration from iconic figures like René Magritte and Remedios Varo.
Ignis Santander
Details on Ignis Santander may be scant, but his artistry speaks volumes. Fellow artist LEViT∆TE lauds Santander’s work for its cinematic grandeur, likening each piece to a beloved yet unseen film. Santander’s oeuvre, brimming with moody sci-fi elements set against haunting electronic scores, invites viewers into a realm of speculative fiction and uncharted creativity.
Dr Formalyst
Dr Formalyst, the alter ego of Nenad Katic, invites visitors into a world where the rational is sidelined in favor of unbridled experimentation. His domain is one of generative CGI and AI, where forms in motion blur the boundaries between the figurative and the abstract. “Egomorphs,” a standout series, showcases Katic’s introspective quest into identity, transformation, and the human condition through a mesmerizing intertwining of AI-generated soundscapes and spontaneous performance.
Video Artists Using AI
Andrea Ciulu
Italian artist Andrea Ciulu made a striking entrance into the web3 art scene with “On These Streets,” a surreal anthology of artificial memories inspired by American hip-hop culture. Alongside this, his “OST Mixtape” series complements the still imagery with a focus on breakdancing, merging visual and auditory narratives into a cohesive exploration of musical heritage.
Jess MacCormack
Jess MacCormack, embracing their queer and mad identity, crafts animations that are a mélange of extreme camp and pointed socio-political observation. Their expansive portfolio has graced numerous global festivals, challenging and engaging audiences with animations that traverse the realms of the surreal and the subversive. MacCormack’s work is a vibrant testament to the transformative power of AI in articulating complex narratives and themes.
noper
Noper, a master of visual hallucination, captures the intangible facets of existence through a kaleidoscope of chaotic and nostalgic visuals. His AI-driven pieces, particularly those depicting surreal natural disasters, underscore an inclination towards the absurd, inviting viewers to reexamine the ordinary through an extraordinary lens.
Nathan Boey
Canadian Nathan Boey, known for his pioneering work in AI sketch comedy with “AI or Die,” integrates AI technology into narrative filmmaking with a distinct comedic flair. Boey’s adventures in AI-aided art-making not only provide a humorous critique of contemporary life but also hint at the potential for AI to inject fresh perspectives into the arts.
Rachel Maclean
Scottish artist Rachel Maclean’s foray into AI and deepfake technology with “DUCK” serves as a postmodern critique of identity, power, and societal constructs. By resurrecting iconic figures within a fragmented narrative, Maclean compels viewers to question the very fabric of reality, pushing the boundaries of art and technology to foster a dialogue on contemporary issues.
As we conclude our expedition through the realm of contemporary video art in the digital age, it’s clear that the medium’s evolution is as boundless as the technologies propelling it forward. From the analog charm of Sarah Zucker’s VHS tapes to the dystopian digital realms crafted by Cool 3D World, and the boundary-pushing explorations of AI by artists like Rachel Maclean and Nathan Boey, the future of video art is a vibrant tapestry of innovation and creativity.
For those intrigued by this journey through the convergence of art, technology, and digital culture, the exploration need not end here. Click over to DeFi Daily News for more trending news articles, diving deeper into the nexus of digital innovation and artistic practice that continues to shape our world. This is merely the beginning of an ongoing voyage through the visual possibilities unlocked by the digital age—where each frame, pixel, and algorithm opens the door to uncharted realms of imagination.
