The Art and Culture in Digital Space

Travelling in the 19 and 20 centuries was thrilling because people knew almost nothing about the lands they were visiting, aside from their names and geographical locations. Thanks to the internet that shifted the dynamics of the world in innumerable ways and provided easy access to the culture of other regions in the world. You can now learn a great deal about European art and culture before even setting foot in Europe. 

The advancements in science and technology have globalized the relationship between art, artists and their audiences through online platforms. Similar to how your phone eats first, art is now displayed on snapchat and instagram stories before being presented in exhibitions. We have moved into a different space where the culture and art of every region are just a Google search away. Most importantly, culture and art have transitioned to the digital world, adhering to the benefits and consequences of virtual reality. These recent developments have shifted the dynamic of art and cultural production and consumption into a different realm. You no longer require a permission letter to exhibit your art or a printing press to publish your work. You can simply log in to your profile and post your talent for millions of people to explore. In fact, you  are more likely to find art and artists on Instagram’s explore page than in traditional art exhibitions. You can learn about the emerging cultures of other nations from Facebook posts rather than through real-life interactions. 

Similarly, artists too, have begun to choose virtual means for creating artifacts and cultural production rather than traditional materialistic materials. The medium for creating art is no longer limited to paints and brushes, but now includes numerous online platforms and applications that allow you to create and share art on social media platforms. Not only has the means of creating art changed, but the entire relationship between artists and their audience has revolutionized and shifted from the material world to the digital spaces. If there was anything left to present in the physical world, multimedia has to come into the spotlight to replace it, merging video, audio, animation, graphics and texts present them all at once.

Moreover, people have begun to use canvases and a new field of graphic designing has emerged, overtaking traditional art mediums like paints and watercolors. Traditional cultural exhibitions have also moved online, making them accessible to everyone.  Many organizations and markets have transformed their operations from posting posters on walls to creating posters online. These companies have shifted their entire advertisement section and its related operations from physical to virtual spaces.

All these elements have become significant parts of our culture produced and consumed within the digital space, redefining their relationship with humanity. The representation of art and culture on social media platforms allows people to break out of their nationalistic bubble and view the world more heterogeneously, giving  every talented and creative artist an equal chance to share their work. Although algorithms may influence visibility, artists worldwide still have the opportunity to contribute to art and culture regardless of age, ethnicity, nationality or gender.

The digital space allows everyone to produce, consume and engage with art and culture by posting, liking, or commenting on an artist's works. It is no longer an elite domain accessible only to those who are rich in terms of time and money. The art and culture in digital space has diminished the dominance of the elite over these mediums and provided equal opportunity to everyone. Today, anyone can access, purchase, share or repost cultural products and artifacts. As a result, the audience has expanded across multiple regions and religions. Nevertheless, in the digital space, the production and consumption of art and culture  has become democratic.