The Zero 10 exhibition at Art Basel is more than just a showcase for digital art – it’s a reminder that artists have been incorporating new technologies into their work for decades.
The event, which ran from September 2023, brought together over 4,000 international art professionals, dealers, and collectors. At its core, Zero 10 was an exploration of the intersection of art, technology, and history. Curators aimed to contextualize digital art within a broader historical framework, revealing the parallels between contemporary digital art and earlier movements that employed new media.
The sector framed new media and computer art not as a market novelty but as part of a long history of artists engaging with new tools, systems and machines. This approach allowed visitors to see digital art not as a radical departure from the past, but as a natural extension of artistic innovation.
A Rich History of Art-Technology Collaboration
One of the key takeaways from Zero 10 is that the use of technology in art is not unique to the digital age. From the 19th-century experiments with photography by artists like Étienne-Jules Marey and Eadweard Muybridge, to the 1960s and 1970s use of computers and video by pioneers like Frieder Nake and Manfred Mohr, artists have consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible with new technologies.
Redefined Notions of Creativity and Authorship
By examining digital art within this broader historical context, Zero 10 also highlighted the ways in which technology can redefine traditional notions of creativity and authorship. As AI-generated art becomes increasingly prevalent, it challenges our understanding of what it means to be an artist and how creativity is generated.
What this means
For art lovers and tech enthusiasts alike, Zero 10 serves as a reminder that the intersection of art and technology is not a new phenomenon. By understanding the historical roots of digital art, we can better appreciate the innovative spirit of contemporary artists and see the potential for technology to expand the possibilities of human creativity.
