How Does Identity Function as a Medium for the Digital Artist?

Most of the digital artists I know online, I recognize them through their work rather than their personal identity. No one can paint or draw exactly the same way, even if they have the same mentor. Each stroke is unique to each individual. This uniqueness is often the defining characteristic of an artistrsquo;s work. Whether itrsquo;s the same portrait or landscape, I would typically be able to tell who did it if I am familiar with their style. Some use a plethora of custom texture brushes, some opt for bold colors and strokes, and others excel in lighting and composition. In my view, most digital artists identify themselves through their work rather than their personal identity. This is how art should be. The work itself should stand out, and the artistrsquo;s identity should be secondary. After all, itrsquo;s about ART.

Artists Shape Their Identity Through Their Art

Artists often shape their identity and image towards their audience through their art rather than through their personality. The more visible and unique an artistic identity, the easier it is for an audience to identify and relate to that artist. Thus, the artistic identity, be it digital or not, is the medium for any artistic approach. Internationally renowned digital artists leverage this principle to establish a unique and recognizable brand, often becoming synonymous with a style or technique.

The Digital Identity as Performance

When it comes to online identity, it can be more of a performance for some web users than others. To answer the question of how identity functions as a medium for the digital artist in the digital age, it would be insightful to find people who are not performing anything remotely close to their biological selves or who are examining how their digital identity affects their actual identity.

Indeed, a digital artist can engage in experiential exploration where they experiment with different digital personas. For example, it is fascinating how some people identify more with their online presence than their biological selves. Many of us know individuals who have developed deep connections and even romantic relationships based on their digital identities, often blurring the lines between their virtual and real-life personas.

Exploring the Impact of Technology on Identity

Many digital artists are driven to create works that provide commentary on the effects of technology on our psyches and identities. These pieces often delve into the psychological impact of social media and virtual environments, which can profoundly change the way people communicate and perceive themselves.

For instance, take Cristin Norine, who spent 30 days isolated in a glass room in Portland, Oregon, as a living exhibit to explore how social media has transformed the way people interact and communicate. This experience serves as a poignant illustration of how digital artists use their work to comment on and reflect upon the human experience in the digital age.

Some digital artists might create pieces that question the authenticity of identity in the digital realm, highlighting the vulnerability of our digital personas. Others might create works that celebrate the creativity and freedom of expression enabled by technology, serving as a reminder of the malleability of identity.

By examining the function of identity as a medium for the digital artist, we can gain a deeper understanding of how technology is reshaping the way we perceive and present ourselves. In this digital age, the interplay between art, technology, and identity is more significant than ever, and the digital artist plays a crucial role in this metamorphic process.