Art Dubai Digital: Senses Behind Artworks

by Sophie She

Art Dubai Digital: Senses Behind Artworks

1 Mar 2024

Marking its third edition, Art Dubai Digital annually showcases a comprehensive view of the digital art scene. Treating new technologies as tools and partners rather than threats, artists leverage immersive technologies to break down traditional art boundaries. And so, The Sandy Times editorial team chatted with a few creators.

Ton Diamonds & Ellen Sheidlin

Ellen Sheidlin, “Annihilation Mirage”

Speakers: Zhenya and Ellen Sheidlin (artists), Andrew and Vlad (gallery owners)

— How could you describe the main idea of your collection?

Zhenya: We dedicated "Mirage" to the seven emirates in the UAE. Each character featured in this collection symbolises and represents one of them.

Ellen: I have only visited three Emirates: Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai. It feels like you are always in the same space, just moving through it constantly. It is about friends, about family coming to visit. So, as a tourist, I started immersing myself in the culture. And once I learned there was a tale of the seven sands, seven Emirates. And I started from there. I thought about what my mirage would look like if I found it in the desert. I began telling myself these tales, and then, reading the history of each Emirate, I thought I had outlined them, even without knowing them, because I believed in my imagination. So, my understanding of art blends very closely with reality. First, I believe in what I imagine, and then I start delving into history, getting closer to the culture. People will ask me, "You painted them but weren't there." Sometimes, we meet people we think are the closest but have never met them before. You know, it is like I have known you my whole life. It was the same with these characters.

— If you could find any three words to describe the collection, what would they be?

Ellen: The smell of the sun. An oasis that exists. Birds singing Eastern tales.

— We also have a couple of questions for Andrew and Vlad, the gallery owners. Could you please share with us how you came up with the idea to create a Digital Art gallery?

Andrew: Actually, we developed the product two years ago. We sought a balance between understanding what NFT is and why it is necessary. After researching the market, we realised that art is something that can leave a lasting impact over time. What blockchain offers today is akin to a new form of oil. It is something that interests everyone and will endure through time.

That is how we started working with Ellen. As an IT company, we fully delved into understanding what blockchain is, and we simply want to popularise it by bridging the gap between the art world and blockchain technology.

Vlad: NFT is a fundamental validation of an artist's digital image's authenticity. It is crucial for us to onboard institutional artists onto the TON blockchain because it is a vital mission to showcase to the broader audience what real art truly entails.

Gallery NoW Seoul & Vakki

Vakki, "Incomplete Shape", 2024

Speaker: Vakki

— Vakki, how would you summarise the idea behind the collection?

— I am really focused on the energy and frequency, you know? Every moment, everything is a composition of energy and circulation, from birth to death. That is the essence of my artwork. Everything marks a beginning and an end, and every end is a new beginning. So, every colour interacts with one another, creating a geometrical relationship that generates energy.

— That is why circles, right?

— They are endless. Endless in the start time and start time is the finish time.

— If you could describe it in three words, which one would you choose?

— Energy, colour and relationship.

Koshta.collective

Sasha Frolova, FONTES AMORIS. YELLOW

Speaker: Evgenia Afanasyeva, the founder and creative director of Koshta.collective

— How would you briefly describe the idea of a Magic Booth?

— The idea of a Magic Booth is inspired by the concept of a Magic Box that contains a variety of items. What you can find at the booth are various artists who work with different techniques — it is like a box of gifts that you can open and explore.

We made an effort to select not just digital artists for our exhibition. It is what we call "phygital." For example, Sasha Frolova usually works with latex and has very few digital works. The work presented here is her fourth or fifth digital piece. The same goes for Andrei Berger. You can buy a complex pack of craft frames with works inspired by Ikea instructions, including a craft journal. All of these are made from Andrei's drawings; it is the original cover of the journal that will come with the set, completely crafted, and that is exactly what Alfredo Cramerotti [the curator of Art Dubai Digital] was talking about regarding the digital process.

— And if you could describe the cat collection in three words, what would they be?

— It is art, community, and entertainment.

Hofa Gallery & Sougwen Chung

Sougwen Chung, "Assembly Lines", 2022

Speaker: Andrew Stiffel, art advisor

— Could you please describe how this works?

— This is all part of a collaboration between humans and machines, led by Sougwen Chung. She works with these robotic dogs, which are essentially drawing operational units, now in their sixth generation. Some of her works are created using virtual reality (VR), such as the hylomorphism piece and the wave studies. These pieces are a blend of VR and collaboration with the robots. For instance, the background of the hylomorphism piece was created in VR, while the small plastic insects were drawn or painted by the robotic dogs.

— And does she code the bots herself?

— She teaches robots using AI and has been working with them for five or six years now. They are currently in their sixth generation. Additionally, she creates her NFTs in virtual reality. She is a Chinese-Canadian artist and researcher.

— How would you summarise this exhibition in three words?

— Innovative, creative and amazing.

— What do you think makes one feel when looking at these pieces?

— Curiosity.

Chinello

Leonardo Da Vinci, "The Dishevelled", 1500–1510

Speaker: Giacomo Nicolella Maschietti, representative of Chinello

— Giacomo, can you please describe the idea behind the collection?

— In a nutshell, we collaborate with major Italian museums to digitise their most significant masterpieces. Our founders, John Blehm and Franco Losi, with their background in Silicon Valley and IT, invented a patent called "My Gallery." This technology securely stores high-resolution scans of artworks in a hardware device linked to a monitor, creating a unique digital file. We produce only nine copies of each file, mirroring the historical significance of sculptures being considered unique until nine were made. These digital exhibitions have been showcased worldwide, from Saudi Arabia to New York and London. Cinello shares 50 per cent of the revenue generated from ticket sales or artwork sales with the partnering museums to support them financially. Our technology is eco-friendly, as we ship only the hardware, avoiding additional costs like insurance. The frames are crafted by skilled artisans, ensuring the authenticity and preservation of the original artworks. Our project features the most important pieces of art history from Leonardo da Vinci to Raphael, Bronzino, and Modigliani.

by Sophie She