Art lovers were in for a unique treat as art came to life at a recent digital showcase.
The exhibition titled, Global Digital Art: Walter Benjamin’s Dialogue with Digital Intelligence, took place at the Ferrari Scuderia showroom at the V&A Waterfront.
The exhibition by the Lekker Gallery showcased seven international digital artists, as well as one South African.
Convergence
Lekker Gallery is the brainchild of Cape Town-born Damon Crowhurst who is exploring the convergence between art and digital displays. “We have traditional art which has been and is so critical in how we see the world around us and influences our outlook,” he explained. “Moving digital art is the next step in the evolution of art, giving the artist an opportunity to tell their story and share their vision in a whole new way. It gives the artist an opportunity to bring an additional layer of soul and resonance to their work.”
Crowhurst works alongside esteemed international curator Huang Yi to bring digital art to new audiences around the world. These two art innovators collaborated with UK-based Art fair StART to showcase emerging digital artists in October 2024 during London’s Frieze Week.
Going global
Having brought the digital art exhibition to Cape Town, Crowhurst hopes to confirm Shanghai and Singapore as the next two global destinations for the Lekker Gallery during 2025.Not just pictures on a wallAccording to Crowhurst, Lekker Gallery was established to fill the gap between display technology and digital art curation. “We are a collaborative team of technologists, advisors and artists that curate, create, and implement digital storytelling.”
“We believe that art consulting isn’t just about filling up blank walls with digital screens; it’s about making thoughtful art selections that tell the unique story behind every space.”Each artwork is displayed on a digital canvas. “But being art, the screens we deploy can move from your standard television aspect 16:9, to completely square displays or even vertical screens. Really, the technology enables you to curate pretty much any shaped canvas.”
What is the future of art?
Crowhurst said the moving digital image is the next step of the evolution of digital art. He added that clients will subscribe to digital art platforms, much like they subscribe to streaming services for music or podcasts.
“There will always be a home for traditional art and we do not want future generations to not know the history of great artists, but art has also always been about pushing the creative boundaries,” he said. “Digital art is just the next frontier in how artists see themselves and the world around them.”
Weekend Argus