Exploring Digital Narratives: All About This Week’s Highlights

GM, the Valuart Newsletter is out! ☕

In this issue, we explore the intersection of art and technology, from Francoise Gamma and Mark Webster’s poignant digital expressions to an exclusive insight into Robbie Barrat’s “Lost Robbies” and a candid interview between Mit Borrás and Jesse Draxler.

Francoise Gamma: The Poetic Equation

"The poetic equation of the message has reached the end of its metaphor."

This line encapsulates the essence of "The Poetic Equation" by Francoise Gamma, his latest piece now part of the Fakewhale Vault!

https://fakewhale.xyz/#/vault/1570000001

In case you missed it, a quick recap from our previous issue: Francoise-Gamma is a Barcelona-based artist who skillfully captures the essence of the digital age through his digital creations. By combining the power of the Internet and the animated GIF medium, he crafts contorted, animated, and mutated representations of the human form. The result is a narrative that blurs the line between the real and the virtual, allowing viewers to view digital art from a completely immersive perspective.

Be sure to check out the full Fakewhale Curation to gain a deeper understanding of his art:

Art in the Age of Algorithms: Exploring The Lost Robbies

Last month all eyes were on Robbie Barrat’s “Lost Robbies” after a monumental sale on SuperRare with “AI Generated Nude Portrait #7 Frame #111” reaching 175.0 ETH.

Born in Dublin in 1999 and raised in West Virginia, Robbie Barrat is a digital artist who is well-known for his GAN-generated works that evoke debates reminiscent of Duchamp’s disruptive “Fountain”.

Rather than viewing AI as a mere tool or novelty, he leveraged it as a genuine collaborator in the artistic process — which isn't about replacing the artist, but rather about enhancing their capabilities, broadening their perspectives, and tapping into new realms of creativity.

His use of AI, especially in this renowned series of AI-generated nude portraits (now better known as the “Lost Robbies”) prompts questions about the evolving landscape of art in the digital age: What does it mean when machines become part of the creative process? How do we evaluate and appreciate art that has both human and algorithmic fingerprints?

By seamlessly integrating AI into his art within this early collection, Barrat not only challenged traditional art paradigms but also set the stage for a new era of collaboration between artists and technology.

For a deeper dive into Robbie Barrat’s creative practice and the full story of the “Lost Robbies”, make sure to check out this comprehensive analysis by FW Curation coming out today.

Mark Webster: The Convergence of Art, Emotion & Code

Mark Webster, is a key figure within the visual and sonic arts realms, mastering the language of code to express his creative vision.

Through the years, his artistic journey has taken him from Canada to the UK, and then to France, where he has mastered the art of code, melding traditional artistic values with cutting-edge computational strategies.

Webster's work stands out for its seamless fusion of traditional and digital, subjective and objective: his projects span an eclectic mix — from language, memory, emotion, to the nuances of AI in deciphering human sentiments. Each piece, whether it's the 'Cosmic Series' with its typographic appeal or 'Neural Drawings' which explores the brain's intricate neural networks, tells a story of our times, merging the physical and digital worlds.

And most notably, his 'Hypertype' series — an emblematic representation of today's tech-driven age, where Webster digs into the implications of AI interpreting human emotions, pushing viewers to ponder the future dynamics between man and machine.

To learn more about the artist and the convergence of art, emotion and code in his body of work, read Fakewhale’s latest Curation on Mark Webster:

Mit Borrás in conversation with Jesse Draxler

In a recent interview with Jesse Draxler, Madrid and Berlin-based visual artist Mit Borrás unravels the intricate tapestry of his art and philosophy. His work explores humanity, nature, and technology, but it reveals an underlying exploration of immortality, our innate desire to explore the unknown, and the way we continuously adapt to the future.

Specifically, he touches on the following topics:

• Humanity & Technology: Borrás’s work frequently highlights the dynamic between humans and technology, and contemplates subjects like the idea of death, eternal life, and evolution.

• Adaptation & the Future: he suggests that adaptability shapes our visions of the future, spanning domains from technology to biology.

• AI's Human-Like Projections: Borrás challenges the increasing trend of attributing human qualities to AI, hinting at deeper human desires for immortality.

• Shamanism & Spirituality: reflecting on the profound influence of Shamanism, Borrás also touches on the challenges of articulating the spiritual in art.

• Digital Art & Installation Balance: he speaks about crafting a balance in his digital installations, merging natural elements with the digital sphere to create both comfort and dissonance.

• Sustainability Concerns with Technology: pointing to historical precedents, Borrás warns of the potential dangers of pursuing technology without considering sustainability.

• Attraction to Chaos: The artists also discuss the theme of chaos, with a specific mention of the concept of "L'appel du vide."

You can access the complete interview recording here:

That wraps up this week’s issue of the Valuart Newsletter, look out for next week’s with even more art-driven insights from our ecosystem!

Izzy