Traditional desires Four artists tell Tanya Combrinck how technology has sparked a demand for human connection, nostalgia, and visuals that make the digital tangible
The digital art world today sits at an interesting point in its history. The tools we have at our disposal are now more powerful than ever, but the ability to create overly slick and polished visuals for films and games, or to create a complex image from a text prompt, has led to a feeling that the human touch is slipping away.
People are looking for connection when they consume art, and there’s now a sense that technology might be coming between the artist and viewer. The result is a series of trends that are reinforcing the human connectedness that people get from art, and rejecting output that threatens it.
One example is the film industry’s move towards 2.5D stylised animation. Audiences are losing their appetite for perfect lighting and smoothness, so we’re starting to see a different look where 3D animation is combined with 2D illustration.
Sometimes the effect is a painterly, dreamlike cinematic with a hint of jumpy movement that harks back to storybook illustration and analogue animation techniques. Other times you’ll see a comic book aesthetic. But one way or another, this technique is being used to produce a look that evokes a sense of the hand-drawn and the human-made.
SEEKING SUBSTANCE
Another movement that’s set to gain even more momentum is the backlash against the world-rocking impact of generative AI. With greater exposure, people are becoming more discerning and can see through the superficially pleasing aesthetic of AI art. They want something more substantial, as well as an industry that supports the human artists who create it.
In conjunction with all of this, social media platforms are exerting their influence on the art world by, ironically, making it harder for artists to attract and keep an engaged following. In a bid to find their tribe, we’re starting to see artists drill down into more specific and individual art styles as a way to build those stronger connections with their fans.
