The emergence of digital art has ignited a discourse on whether digital art should be considered “true” art in the traditional sense. Some critics argue that digital art lacks the tangible and authentic characteristics of conventional art, while others see it as a reflection of our progressively digital world and an evolution of the art form.
PAK, whose real identity remains a mystery, made history by becoming the most expensive living artist with a digital art sale that generated $91.8 million. The artwork in question, called “Merge,” was acquired on Nifty Gateway to 28,983 collectors who purchased 266,445 units of the work that could be combined into a single piece owned by a single buyer.
This unprecedented sale put digital art in the spotlight, raising questions about its value and legitimacy. While some see this as a revolutionary new way to buy, sell, and own art, others are skeptical, seeing it as a speculative bubble or a fad. For PAK, this digital art sale represent a new medium for creativity that is still in its infancy.
As PAK notes, “at our core, we are communicating, and although judging what we produce as ‘art or not’ may not be easy, the matter of ‘intention’ comes into play sooner or later. Most of what I produce emerges as a result of steps taken to solve an existing problem,” one of which is how to create something visually compelling that reflects the true nature and potential of this platform. As evidenced by the words of PAK, “Understanding Merge requires a deep dive. Ever since I was introduced to the digital art selling world, I thought it was not just a new marketplace but also a brand-new medium, and I have always defended this. Of course, this means that I must create the things I create in a way that reflects the reality of this medium.”
One of the main arguments against digital art is that it can be easily replicated and lacks the uniqueness and rarity of traditional art. However, pieces like “Merge” and “The Fungible” have helped prove the potential to address this issue by providing a unique way to authenticate and verify digital art, making it possible to establish ownership and rarity.
Another criticism of digital art is that it lacks the technical skills and craftsmanship required to create traditional art. However, digital art requires a different set of technical skills, such as coding and digital manipulation, which can be just as complex and challenging as traditional art techniques. Proponents of digital art argue that it offers unique opportunities for creativity and innovation that are not possible with traditional mediums. Digital art allows designers to experiment with new forms, such as virtual reality, and to create interactive and immersive experiences for the viewer. The advent of this format has allowed for greater accessibility and democratization of art, as works can be easily shared and viewed online, rather than reserved only for a select group of people with the means to collect and store physical art in the past.
When asked about what other uncharted areas of design they’re exploring, PAK stated, “AI has always fascinated me. My @archillect project, which has been online for a long time, is designed to work as a ‘trend-getter’ by predicting popular content and creating its own profile based on its choices. However, it has turned into a ‘trend-setter’ due to the tremendous size of the audience it has reached. AI has always fascinated me, as we have been getting along well for a long time. LostPoets is another digital artwork of mine that contains 65,536 visuals generated with AI, allowing collectors to personalize the tokens carrying these visuals in various ways. LostPoets continues to update its visuals as AI technologies evolve. AI has always fascinated me, and how can I express my passion with countless moves I am making and planning to make in this field? AI has always fascinated me, doesn’t it fascinate you? I have always been interested in everything that includes innovation.”
As the art world continues to confront the challenges and opportunities of new technologies, the debate over digital art is expected to persist. However, artists like PAK are demonstrating the potential of this new medium and pushing its boundaries. By exploring the possibilities of the various methods of design, the evolution of digital art will continue to reshape the art world, and it will be exciting to see what new innovations and breakthroughs emerge from it. As PAK stated, “I see this as a new marketplace and a brand-new medium. They represent an opportunity for creators to experiment and push the limits of what is possible… this is just the beginning.”