From M/Cyclopedia of New Media
Multimedia Art
- Multimedia Art can be described as an artwork comprised of multiple media. Indeed the term Multimedia is defined as: "the use of several different media to convey information (text, audio, graphics, animation, video, and interactivity)" (Wikipedia, 2005).
- Randall Packer defines the essential characteristics of Multimedia as; immersion, interdisciplinary, hypermedia, interactivity and narrativity (Packer, 1999, p.11). Indeed the creation of Multimedia Art has been described by many artists as an attempt to increase the experience for the viewer and many multimedia artworks encourage interactivity and immersion through the integration of different media.
- Since the introduction of New Media Technologies, Multimedia Art has stretched to include the “intermingling of art and technology�? (Rush, 1999, p. 36). Therefore, non-traditional Multimedia Art, or Multimedia Art that includes the use of New Media Technologies can be seen as a branch of New Media Art.
- Mediums in Multimedia Art now include combinations of digital or computer based media. Different media in a multimedia artwork can include paintings, drawings and fragments of everyday objects or video and computer images.
Heike Herrling 09:00, 2 Sep 2005 (EST)
Multimedia Art - Technology
- Multimedia Art has been directly affected by the development of New Media Technologies. Indeed new technologies have changed the way society produces and consumes art, highlighting our changing culture and it's dependence on technology. Artists have historically used new and developing media to create works of art as these new mediums have become available to them.
- Indeed the evolution of Multimedia Art has been attributed not only to the development of new media but also as a result of artists need to "question the long tradition of painting as the priveledged medium of representation" (Rush,1999,p.7) as well as the desire to increasingly integrate the viewer into the artwork and heighten the artistic experience.
Heike Herrling 09:22, 2 Sep 2005 (EST)
Multimedia Art - Issues
- There are many issues associated with Multimedia Art, at the centre of these issues is the belief that the use of technology to create art, requires no more then a simple push of the ‘art button’ on the computer. Leading to the question where is the skill in digital or multimedia art or any artform that relies on the use of technology to replicate and create images? (Jarvis, 2002)
- Another important issue is the way that Multimedia Art and its interrelated disciplines such as digital art, video art, computer art etc. have changed the way we consume art. Many artworks today can only be viewed online, some for a very short amount of time, indeed a majority of Multimedia Artworks are inherently untouchable and illusive as many exist only in binary code. Consequently the internet has opened up a new way to view and appreciate art, where people no longer have to travel to their nearest art gallery to view a famous painting as many art galleries now have websites exhibiting their artworks online.
- Another implication of the integration of new media into art is that artwork is no longer something people simply stand back and look at. Artwork can now be interactive and many multimedia artists aim to include the viewer in the artwork. This has the potential to blur the line between art and virtual reality, increasing and intensifying the viewer's experience.
Multimedia Art - History
- Multimedia Art has a long history, which has developed in relation to both technology and culture (Timeline ).
- The very first multimedia artwork as described by Packer in his article What Is Multimedia Anyway begins with the the most ancient of artforms the humble cave painting and a ritual ceremony, which included; paintings, music and performance, simultaneously stimulating multiple senses, including sight, touch and hearing.
- From these humble beginnings, over 1000 years into the future came possibly one of the most important figures in the development of Multimedia Art. Richard Wagner and his theory of the total art work. He believed that his opera should not simply be a showcase for singers but a more powerful experience which integrated a number of artforms into a single medium, that would thrill the senses (Packer & Jordon, 2000, p.xviii).
- Another important figure in the history of Multimedia Art was Vannever Bush, one of Americas chief scientists, in 1945 he proposed that the world find new ways to apply emerging technologies. Bush invented hyperlinking which formed the basis for hypermedia an integral concept to the notion of computer based multimedia.
- In the 1960s Billy Kluver a scientist at Bell Labs began a series of collaborations between scientists and artists introducing the idea that each could bring something unique to the creation of artworks with technology, furthering the discipline of Multimedia Art (Packer, 1999, p.12).
- In 1973 Alan Kay led the development of the Graphical User Interface, possibly one of the most important steps towards human-computer interactivity. Heightening the ability for people to creativlely interact with computers, an important step for computer based artworks (Packer, 1999, p.13).
- Finally another important step in Multimedia Art towards the ideal of interactivity, was Scott Fisher's research into virtual reality. In the late 1980s, Fisher set out to develop an interface that would engage all the senses, building on the previous work of Ivan Sutherland (Packer, 2000).
Multimedia Art - Future
- Recently there have been great advancements in technology and its implementation into the art of this decade. Whereas 10-15 years ago collaborations between artists and technologists were championed as groundbreaking, today we view such alliances as customary (Seligman, 2000, p.11). It is important to note that as society changes it will be reflected in the work of our artists, as the development of new media has impacted on our society so art reflects this and hence is important to our way of life. Indeed as artists continually invent new ways to integrate our advancing technologies into their pieces, there is no telling where the technologies and artists of the future will take us.
See also:
Bibliography:
Books:
Graham, B. (2003) Directions In Art: Digital Media, Great Britain: Heinemann, ISBN 0431176469.
Rush, M. (1999) New Media in Late 20th-Century Art, New York: Thames & Hudson, ISBN 0500203296.
Packer, R. & Jordon, K. (2000) Multimedia: From Wagner to Virtual Reality, New York: Norton, ISBN 0393323757
Online Sources:
Jarvis, J.D. (2002). “Towards a Digital Aesthetic�, Museum of Computer Art [online] available: http://moca.virtual.museum/editorial/jdaesthetic.htm [2004, August, 10].
Packer, R. (1999) "Just What is Multimedia, Anyway?", Artful Media,[Online], Jan-March, pp. 11-13. Available: http://www.zakros.com/bios/ReadingA.pdf, [2004, August, 6].
Packer, R.(2000) "From Wagner to Virtual Reality", ArtMuseum.Net [Online] Available: http://www.artmuseum.net/w2vr/timeline/timeline.html,[2004, September,8].
Seligmann, D. (1999) "Artful Media - Celebrating Art and Technology", Artful Media, [Online], Jan-March, pp. 11. Available: http://www.zakros.com/bios/ReadingA.pdf [2004, August, 6].
(2004) "Multimedia",Wikipedia.com,[Online], Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimedia [2004, August, 8].
Contributors to this site
Lauren Porter 12:27, 9 Sep 2004 (EST)
Lauren Porter 21:59, 9 Sep 2004 (EST)
Heike Herrling 09:22, 2 Sep 2005 (EST)
