A JOURNEY INTO THE FANTASTIC WORLD OF DIGITAL ART

Is it still art if it’s mostly digitally generated? With AI bursting onto the art and design scene and changing how designers around the world do their work I have been pondering that question. How do you assess an image? How much of the artist’s idea has gone into the image and how much of it has been dreamt up by the machine? No easy answers here. And, judging by the heavy discourse around this topic, answers that are not coming any time soon.

So, I finally abandoned the academic thinking and decided to share one of the artists I recently discovered and whose work caught my eye - thanks to, you guessed it - IG algorithm. It may not be Mona Lisa but it is something that is sure to brighten my day, and that means something. Here he is - and I hope you enjoy his colorful and playful work as much as I do.

Franck Gerard, according to his own website, is a self-taught French visual artist who lives and works in Angers, France. Building on his own computer graphics background, he started to showcase his personal vector graphics work on Instagram in 2020 and quickly built a strong following. Dipping into his passions - art in all its forms, architecture, fashion and technology - for inspiration, he explores multiple digital techniques to create art: vector illustration, digital painting, manipulated photography, 3d, artificial intelligence and computer coding. The resulting artworks are "retro-futuristic." His inspiration? Frank Stella, François Morellet, Paul Klee, Piet Mondrian, Vassily Kandinsky, Donald Judd, Yves Klein, Andy Warhol. Some pretty big names in the art world!

Franck initially caught my eye with his “la fille en jeune” series of simple, minimalist architectural structures inhabited by a single female figure. Solitary, yes, but also somehow optimistic given the bright and cheerful color palette.

From then on, I have followed and appreciated his colorful reinterpretations of Piet Mondrian, his futuristic headdresses, face paints or Pucci-esque clothing that is bursting with color. Most recently, his “ghost” series has been interesting to watch.

So, as we get closer to the end of the year, set your own thoughts about what constitutes “true” art and just enjoy this playful collection. I sure do. Franck’s art is accessible at his instagram.

Have fun!

ENTER THE DARK BLUE SPACE. ESCAPE THE WORLD OUTSIDE

This year has brought all sorts of emotions. The fear of the unknown pandemic, the boredom of home confinement, the elation when the initial set of lockdown restrictions lifted and we could step out and exhale, even if only for a brief moment. The joy of seeing friends in person for the first time in months. The dread as the infections rate spiked up again and the despair with the reintroduction of lockdowns.

Inspired by the ups and downs that have defined 2020, Artechouse, the recent experiential installation arrival on the NYC art scene, picked a color that is meant to soothe and steady us. Blue. Pantone’s 2020 Color of the Year ClassicBlue to be exact. Pairing the reliable, restful color with a search for deeper meaning and inspiration, Artechouse delivers “Celestial”, a “journey beyond the skies.”

So come with me. Enter the dark old boiler room under the sprawling Chelsea Market. Find a (socially distanced) spot and let the swirling, spinning, multiplying array of digitally powered shapes, lines, dots and forms in every shade of blue wash over you. Pulling you away from the world outside. Letting your imagination run wild. Energizing and centering you at the same time.

Sitting in the darkened space watching the shape-shifting scenery, the Czech in me couldn’t help but be reminded of a famous Czech song by Jaroslav Jezek. “Tmavomodry svet” (The World in Dark Blue) was inspired by the composer’s disability (he was almost blind and could only distinguish some dark blue shades) but it would have fit well here, too. A small, fleeting connection to home that is so far, far away right now. One tiny moment to be grateful for. What memories and ideas will the show inspire in you?