artwork to be used on a vast number of mediums, the stakes are higher. Not only has technology
made artists better compensated for their work, it has also increased the number of participants in
the overall art-mosphere through social media Technology has changed the way artists are looked
upon and has helped artists get funding for their campaigns and projects. A study revealed that
in 2011 alone, crowdfunding website Kickstarter raised almost $100m in pledges with more than
27,000 art-related projects. This has continued to grow, one of such popular campaigns in Nigeria
this year was #GetDavidToYale, a campaign to help a young writer better hone his skills at Yale. It
all started on Twitter and got enough attention for his funding goal on the gofundme platform to
be reached.
The future of art, just like technology is unpredictable, but one thing is sure, technology will
continue to assist and redefine the boundaries of art. Now with 3D printing technology, intrinsic
and complicated sculptures are made in a matter of minutes, alternative art forms have emerged
in the form of digital portraits, abstract art and a host of others. Technology keeps pushing the
boundaries and artists must struggle to keep up.
The issue with technology is the speed at which certain otherwise cumbersome processes are
simplified and carried out. Certain schools of thought are of the opinion that technology has aided
in the devaluation of pieces of art, because for every extra piece of art mass produced, the value
drops a little. They do have a point as when the supply of art exceeds the demand prices definitely
fall. But it must be noted that while the individual prices of art might have been devalued a little, the
expansion of this billion dollar industry is unmistakable and this ‘gradual depreciation’ is a small price
to pay. The upside of this ‘depreciation’ is that vintage methods and pieces of art are commanding
an even higher market value. The scarcity or approaching extinction of these art works and their
styles have caught the eye of art collectors worldwide. And they are scrambling for them. It is safe
to say that in the near future, these vintage pieces of art will have almost quadrupled in value.
One thing is certain as time goes on. Technology will continue to push the limits to art. It will
challenge the creation, exhibition, experience, commerce and preservation of art any way it deems
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