Digital Art Mile Shines at Art Basel 2024

The
Digital
Art
Mile
at
Art
Basel
2024
showcased
the
evolving
presence
and
acceptance
of
digital
art,
featuring
contributions
from
notable
artists
and
platforms.
According
to
Tezos
Spotlight,
this
satellite
event,
supported
by
the
Tezos
Foundation,
marked
a
significant
step
forward
for
digital
art,
which
had
often
been
relegated
to
the
periphery
of
the
traditional
art
world.

The
Evolution
of
Digital
Art
at
Art
Basel

In
previous
years,
Tezos
played
a
crucial
role
in
promoting
digital
art
at
Art
Basel.
Early
exhibitions
included
notable
artists
from
Hic
et
Nunc
and
generative
artistry
from
fx(hash).
Despite
the
absence
of
a
similar
presence
in
2024,
the
Digital
Art
Mile,
situated
a
few
streets
away
from
the
main
venue,
demonstrated
a
matured
expression
of
digital
art.

This
year’s
event
was
a
collaborative
effort,
featuring
partners
such
as
Le
Random
and
platforms
including
Objkt,
MakersPlace,
and
fx(hash).
The
Digital
Art
Mile
spanned
three
venues,
offering
a
diverse
and
comprehensible
presentation
of
digital
art.

The
Old
World
vs.
The
New
World

Historically,
Art
Basel
has
been
cautious
about
fully
embracing
digital
art,
especially
during
the
peak
of
NFT
speculation.
However,
initiatives
like
the ‘Node
to
Node’
exhibition
in
Paris
in
2023,
which
physically
represented
generative
and
AI
art,
indicated
a
shift
towards
integrating
digital
art
into
the
traditional
art
context.

Art
Basel
2024’s
Chief
Digital
Officer,
Craig
Hepburn,
introduced ‘Digital
Dialogues’,
a
series
of
discussions
about
the
future
of
digital
art,
featuring
prominent
figures
such
as
Sasha
Stiles
and
Cory
Arcangel.
This
initiative,
along
with
the
Digital
Art
Mile,
highlighted
the
growing
acceptance
of
digital
art
within
the
mainstream
art
world.

Highlights
from
the
Digital
Art
Mile

The
Digital
Art
Mile
featured
a
variety
of
curated
shows.
Objkt,
the
largest
NFT
platform
on
Tezos,
showcased
works
from
genre-spanning
artists,
including
a
dedicated
room
for
pioneering
digital
artist
Analivia
Cordeiro.
The
fx(hash)
booth
displayed
tapestries
and
audio-enabled
digital
displays,
providing
a
tangible
and
engaging
experience
for
visitors.

The ‘generative
art
kiosk’
at
fx(hash)
was
particularly
successful,
offering
unique
printed
works
from
digital
projects.
This
initiative
received
positive
feedback
from
Art
Basel’s
head
of
editorial,
Jeni
Fulton,
who
appreciated
the
tangible
aspect
of
the
artworks.

UNHCR
and
Philanthropic
Efforts

The
Digital
Art
Mile
also
featured
a
charitable
exhibition
curated
for
the
UNHCR,
highlighting
the
effects
of
climate
change
on
displaced
people.
The
exhibition
included
works
from
high-profile
Tezos
artists,
with
at
least
50%
of
artwork
sales
donated
to
the
UNHCR.
Artists
like
GoldCat
contributed
pieces
that
reflected
personal
experiences
with
extreme
weather
and
displacement.

The
Future
of
Digital
Art

The
success
of
the
Digital
Art
Mile
at
Art
Basel
2024
suggests
a
promising
future
for
digital
art
within
the
mainstream
art
world.
Diane
Drubay,
an
artist
involved
in
the
event,
emphasized
the
importance
of
bridging
the
gap
between
the
web3
art
world
and
traditional
art
fairs.
The
Digital
Art
Mile’s
high-quality
exhibitions
and
diverse
curation
indicate
that
digital
art
is
ready
to
be
fully
integrated
into
events
like
Art
Basel.

While
patience
may
be
required,
the
Digital
Art
Mile
at
Art
Basel
2024
marks
a
significant
step
towards
the
broader
acceptance
and
appreciation
of
digital
art.

Tezos
Spotlight

Image
source:
Shutterstock