“In the digital era, a different set of concerns prevails. The act of repurposing aligns with procedures of reformatting and transcoding—the perpetual modulation of preexisting files. Faced with the infinite resources of the Internet, selection has emerged as a key operation: We build new files from existing components, rather than creating from scratch. Artists whose work revolves around choosing objects for display (Bove, Johnson) or who reuse previous art (Ołowska with Stryjeńska, Simon Starling with Henry Moore, Ryan Gander with Mondrian) are foregrounding the importance of selection strategies, even when the outcome is decisively analog. Questions of originality and authorship are no longer the point; instead, the emphasis is on a meaningful recontextualization of existing artifacts.”
In this new era, more and more people have started to fit into a common status quo, people are more similar because we are familiar with the same vast history. Now, with the entire world, the entire universe, in our pockets, we must comprehend more and avoid the inevitable distraction that a vast array of information presents. In the past differences were more authentically expressive, today, with this distraction we seldom notice these golden differences – differences that are bound to bring new expressions of art. Much of the art world today steers complacently close to what once was, presented to us under a new perspective. Perspective alone, I believe, does not alone make art. It is the combinatıon of perspective and authentic originality that will bring art back to it’s highest state. Our society is paralyzed by the overflow of information, which has given life to a great, shared insecurity for our authentic selves. The side effect to this perpetual insecurity gaping underfoot has made us all more identical, less authentic. New ideas and new techniques are fascinating, but artists today find themselves at a standstill – desperate to feature their authentic selves. I find a lack of volition has much to do with this dilemma. I sometimes ponder and ask myself this question: “We came to the end, we often feel as if we accomplished everything that is possible, and there is nothing left to create. How can a person create something raw, unique, and completely fresh in this burnt out world? What if all forms of art has already been founded and nothing is left for our generation to create anew and exiting?” Artists play a vital role in today’s world. It is most important for us to perceive the world as it was, is, and becoming, so that we may then begin our work in creating justified new expressions for the good of our world and future. I have great respect for those artists that are attempting to do this today. Art, in order to be relevant, must be grounded in the present day and not the past. Art, like all other advances in the world, becomes more and more difficult as time passes – and I believe it is due time for the art world to make another advance towards our future. We must steer away from renewing the old, constantly playing catch-up, and allowing pre-existing resources to hinder the discovery of something new! We must break out of this funk, breathe, develop, and make forward advances on the path of expression and creation.