What inspires you as an artist?
The everyday, things that go unnoticed, society, nature, form.
What does the term ‘curator’ mean to you?
When I think about the word curator, I think about an individual or group who oversee the running of an exhibition. Someone with knowledge of the art in the exhibition and a sound knowledge of the artists that are being represented. A curator is a linchpin in the operation of an exhibition and its overall success.
From both an artistic and curatorial point of view, what does ‘space’ mean to you and why?
Space to me is simply the area that is available to exhibit in. In a regards to a space I think about the lighting, wall space, floor space, architectural layout and more. These are the associations I have with the word 'space'.
What inspires you as a curator?
When curating I am inspired by many sources. The space can be seen as inspirational in that it can alter or be the force that drives people to work in a particular way with their art. Old and new exhibitions influence and inspire me as curator as well.
How do you perceive that attitude towards art in a digital context?
Digital curating is an interesting way to work. My attitude to the digital context is somewhat similar to how I would approach physical spaces. It varies in that you have to consider different aspects and overcome other challenges. I am still inspired by past exhibitions that may have been presented physically though.
What are the challenges of digital curation?
Digital curation is challenging because it's a fairly new style of presenting an exhibition. You need to some knowledge of working online. This can require knowledge of creative programs as well as at least basic website building skills. Overall, it is difficult working with something that is not a physical space. However both types of exhibiting present different challenges.
What are the positives of digital curation?
Digital curation is available for anyone. You can make a whole exhibition for no cost. So a positive can be seen as the no cost factor which creates greater accessibility.
For me personally curating an exhibition online has brought me these positives:
-Greater knowledge of web design
-Practical application of creative programs
Another positive is that you have the opportunity to edit writing/designs and so if something isn't the way you want it, you have the chance to edit it at any time.
Craft/Technology: Is there a difference for you? What is it?
Craft and technology to me are closely linked terms. Craft in some senses relates to the using and application of a particular technology.
Does digital technology change how you critique, produce and view art?
Not really. The use of digital technology can enhance so much in art. I am very welcoming to it's use. I believe it is very valuable.
In my own practice digital technology is very significant. I use digital photography and creative programs such as photoshop to create certain aspects of my art.
Can you describe how artists, nationally or internationally, have utilised digital technology in regards to their practice?
In contemporary art especially, the application of digital technology is evident. It is now fairly common to see the use of technologies that are digital such as video, digital photography, graphics, creative programs and more being utilised in artist's practices.
Artists use digital technology to promote themselves. Digital technology has allowed artists to get more exposure and be accessed any time of the day.
If I was to think of a particular national artist using digital technology, Patricia Piccinini and her use of video art in her practice comes to mind.
If I think internationally, artists like Lillian F. Schwartz who makes digital collage come to mind.
Interview: Bek Park
What inspires you as an artist?
- Unique and unusal books, magazines, objects and images. Op-shops and second hand shops are filled with treasures I collect, to use for both inspiration and my art works. I have a specific interest in artwork and imagery from the 1920's through to 50's.
What does the term ‘curator’ mean to you?
- A person or a group of people who collect images/artworks and bring them together in a way that makes fit together visually, or perhaps with a common theme and presenting the work to make it available to the public.
From both an artistic and curatorial point of view, what does ‘space’ mean to you and why?
- Space is the area in which artists can present their artworks, whether its in a physical space like a gallery, or in the artificial world of the internet.
What inspires you as a curator?
- Original or at the very least imaginative works that have an aesthetic appeal. However everyone's opinion is different when it comes to what is appealing.
How do you perceive that attitude towards art in a digital context?
- Same as above.
What are the challenges of digital curation?
- I guess if you don't have any skills with the technology used to curate digitally that may be a problem.
What are the positives of digital curation?
- The positives are that the work shown by using digital curation can be viewed by a larger audience, at any time, therefore making the artist images more accessible
Craft/Technology: Is there a difference for you? What is it?
- Yes. I feel craft has a tangible quality that technology cannot achieve, however technology has an accessible nature that makes it avaliable to the majority of people.
Does digital technology change how you critique, produce and view art?
-Not really, it only makes viewing art easier for me.
Can you describe how artists, nationally or internationally, have utilised digital technology in regards to their practice?
- Digital technology is often used in creating art, also for finding and gathering information for their art practice has become more accessible due to the internet. Finally, it has become much easier to exhibit art to a large audience.
Interview: Simon Ready
What inspires you as an artist?
Other artists works, current Australian and world topics and the media.
What does the term ‘curator’ mean to you?
A curator is the general manager or CEO of a gallery or show. They organise and select everything that makes up the show, from the gallery layout to the works being exhibited. This means they must have bother the managerial skills and the artistic knowledged to organise a successfull show.
From both an artistic and curatorial point of view, what does ‘space’ mean to you and why?
When I think of space as an artist all I can think of is it is a limitation to my work, one that I have no control over. I believe a curator would look at it in the same way. Except they would also be thinking as to how can they make the space work for them. Also very importantly what works would work well in the space they are viewing.
What inspires you as a curator?
Researching past and current artists, whether that be looking through books and magazines or flicking through internet pages in search of great imagery. Going to galleries to view other artists and curators creations and even simple trips out into the big wide world.
How do you perceive that attitude towards art in a digital context?
I believe that digital art and digital galleries are the way of the future. They allow artist and cutartors to work in a realm were there aren't to many constraints. It also allows artists to have there works viewed easily by audiences whom are viewing from the comfort of there own home.
What are the challenges of digital curation?
Digital curation is a technique that is becoming a greater way for artists to get their works out there to be viewed by a larger audience, then simpley holding a physical show in a gallery. The challenges include marketing the show as there is so much spam online these days, your show can be simpley over looked. If you don't have the knowledge of computer based designing programs then it becomes very difficult to construct and maintain. Also its harder to work with a show that its not physically constructed in an actual gallery.
What are the positives of digital curation?
There are no constraints. Artists and curators are able to construct online spaces and works to what ever their minds desire. Digital curation increases the audience to the online world, anyone can view the works if they have access to the internet. Minimal cost is a major factor. Its far less expensive to purchase a domain online and operate from there instead of renting out a space.
Craft/Technology: Is there a difference for you? What is it?
When I here the word craft it reminds me of a bunch of mothers or grandmothers potting around producing collaged containers and knitting. Technology is modern, usually involes computers, electronic programs or systems these days. I guess when you think about it craft would have been technology in a great proportion of the 20th century.
Does digital technology change how you critique, produce and view art?
I believe that digital technology has cheapened art making, as imagery becomes too acessible, any joe blow can steal your work and appropriate it in anyway they please. Regarding viewing and critiquing artworks its great, due to the fact that there is such an abundence of work out there to view and that it is so easily accessed.
Can you describe how artists, nationally or internationally, have utilised digital technology in regards to their practice?
As stated above numerous times Digital technology has given artists the oportunity to allow their works to be viewed by a far greater audience than any gallery could ever create. Artists use blogs and websites to create online gallaries as online viewing areas for audiences.
With the easy availablity of technology such as DSLR cameras and creative design programs, contemporary artists such as British Surrealist artist Mark Mumford are able to photograph landscapes, take these images back to his studio and rework them in photoshop to eventually come to the desired result.
Interview: Nina Gibbes
What inspires you as an artist?
Nature and all its complexities, the universe, science, birds and plants
What does the term ‘curator’ mean to you?
Someone with an eye for beautiful work and a passion for artists. A curator is someone dedicated to showing the work of artists and sharing their love of it with others.
From both an artistic and curatorial point of view, what does ‘space’ mean to you and why?
A space is an area in which the artwork inhabits. It can be as simple as a white cube or have an immense impact on how the artwork is read. It has an atmosphere that I think is amplified when you are viewing an artwork.
What inspires you as a curator?
I think it all begins with the chosen space, how it influences your mood and what it reminds you of, then you begin to think about artists who marry into its environment. As a curator, I think about what inspires me as an artist and then I begin to think about other people who share a similar passion.
How do you perceive that attitude towards art in a digital context?
It’s a different approach certainly. To some artists I don’t think it gives them any advantages and for some it would dilute the experience of their work. I don’t think the full experience of an artwork can be felt via the internet. However, the artworks are projected into total exposure. Many people can access it, many can experience it.
What are the challenges of digital curation?
The use of digital programs proved to be a challenge for me. And also about the space as a sort of virtual reality that you can’t physically walk through.
What are the positives of digital curation?
I learnt about these programs that will be helpful in the future and like I said before, a lot of people are able to access the exhibition and see the work, even if it isn’t in the flesh.
Craft/Technology: Is there a difference for you? What is it?
they’re both bound to each other. Craft uses technology.
Does digital technology change how you critique, produce and view art?
In some senses yes, it changes how you view art. It changes the relationship between the audience and the artist. But it also has a very rich advantage in the production of art. Digital technology has allowed artists to make some incredible things.
Can you describe how artists, nationally or internationally, have utilised digital technology in regards to their practice?
There are so many artists who have utilised digital technology. Some use it for digital photography and printing whilst others have been able to construct immense, monumental artworks that are really amazing. Look at someone like Brian Eno. His enormous digital projections on different architectural structures are really beautiful and work such as his would be very difficult to achieve without digital technology.
