Post-digital art addresses the evolving dynamics between digital technologies and artistic expressions, giving priority to human rather than digital aspects. Within the realm of contemporary aesthetics, which stresses humanity’s active pursuit of aesthetic experiences, there is a growing emphasis on the deep connection between artistic production and prevailing social, economic, and political challenges, including issues (such as ecology, health crises, and conflicts), where artists, by means of creativity, try to heighten public awareness, and find solutions. In an era dominated by ubiquitous fake news, the lack of objective criteria, and an overflow of online content which cannot be verified, and which are often centered around aesthetically engaging yet questionable epistemic values, there is a pressing need to examine the connection between art, aesthetics, ethics, and politics.

Exhibition

In her dance video, Confinement Capsule Paula Rakić describes a subjective experience of simulation, cloning, technology, and AI. The capsule, as an AI realm and a simulation, is presented here as the only reality we have. In the video, the artist/dancer conveys a sense of restlessness, isolation, captivity, and absurdity through expressive movements. 

Marko Mrvoš in his multimedia work Awareness of Reality explores the relationship between optical illusion and space. It is a site-specific work which always needs to be adapted to the location to ensure the realization of the optical illusion. In addition to other objects created by the artist himself, the work also includes content from social network X, which consists of user comments and is presented as a network – because everyone is “networked”. 

Beside the student works, the exhibition also features the works of artists with ample experience in the fields of artificial intelligence and sound art. 

In his audiovisual installation Neighbourhood Stories, Aleksandar Vejnović explores the period following the wars in Yugoslavia. The sound of the installation is based on the word “war”, which undergoes permutations maifesting as different sounds. The sound and visual components of the installation exist independently; they are open to interpretation by visitors or listeners, who can freely enter and exit the installation. 

In a video-loop and two digital prints entitled Unbuilt, Anamarija Podrebarac explores the relationships between architecture and the structure of single-celled dinoflagellate organisms that inhabit the oceans. Dinoflagellates’ ability to harness light, as a beacon of bioluminescence and as a compass for photosynthesis, inspired the artist to incorporate innovative lighting solutions in her design ideas, which are both energy-efficient and aesthetically striking.                                                                                      

Each of these artworks explores the ties between artificial intelligence and contemporary artistic expression and examines the relationship between human creativity and digital technologies.  

The project was realised in collaboration of the Center for Innovative Media at the Academy of Applied Arts and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Aesthetics – University Rijeka.

Curators, mentors and organzers: Tomislav Brajnović, Iris Vidmar Jovanović, Ingeborg Fülepp, Dijana Protić and the leader of the Gallery O.K. Katarina Podobnik

The final exhibition AesthEthic was realized with the support of the O.K. Gallery in Rijeka and co-financed by the University of Rijeka, the City of Rijeka and the Austrian Cultural Forum.