How have recent advances in computer technology affected story telling within artwork? Technology has changed the world we live in today, in the past twenty years the availability of smart phones has reached most of the planet; one gigabyte of memory has gone from an expensive luxury to something virtually useless to many people. But it is common to overlook the extreme amount that the introduction of new technology has changed the art on our planet. From monoscenic rock art of the Iberian Mediterranean Basin to the modern day graphical design that we may see on a poster on a bus or a train, but how did the story behind the art evolve to the present day? And particularly how has the introduction of the computer revolutionised not just art in general but with how we tell a story within the art. I will be focusing on three different artists and how they have used computer technology like Photoshop to influence their style of work. It will hopefully show how the computer has changed things from drawings, paintings and even sculptures to what we have today where its possible with a tutorial of the internet for the most simplest of people to create a fairly professional piece of art. The artist I am taking interest of is Brian Oldham, Daisuke Takura and Mark Weaver. I will be looking at how computers have influenced their work and also the difference between their works to see if computers actually can limit some work. I will also be looking at how the Surrealist movement has progressed with the introduction of computers. Adobe Photoshop and Surrealism In the current day many of what we see as a design is actually made using Photoshop. Photoshop gives the ability to any individual person to create a piece of artwork that is meaningful to them personally; it gives the ability to the normal person to become an artist in his or her own way. Although the artwork may not be a sculpture in a museum or a painting destined for the roof of a church, I believe that computer design should still be accredited to the same level. Although it is perceived that Photoshop is an easier way to create artwork than using pen and paper it still requires the same time and effort is still put in to creating it and this is well known by people like myself who have created artwork using both techniques. Photoshop just brings a whole different way of creating art; you can create your own photographs, design a logo or even enhance handmade work like a font or sculpture. Surrealism is a cultural movement, which uses the element of surprise and unexpected juxtaposition within the work. The Surrealism movement started in 1920 the aim was ‘was to "resolve the previously contradictory conditions of dream and reality’. Early works were mainly paintings with confusing scenarios such as an elephant’s face being replaced by a trumpet or an animal doing human activities. An example of this is Vladimir Kush’s work on the right, which shows typical surrealistic art. The movement changed very much with the introduction of computers and Photoshop. Actual photographs may be used and then manipulated to tell the story within, for instance the photo may appear to have a figures face floating by the side of them, this would just represent the story that they’re losing themselves and their identity. Traikovs work below is an example of this and it shows the story behind is not as obvious to see in more modern surrealist art. Therefore this is showing how the advances in technology have changed the whole surrealism movement and how the stories are presented.
I will now be looking at my three different artists who I think represent modern story telling through their artwork. The artists are Brian Oldham, Daisuke Takura and Mark Weaver. All of the artists create work that would not be possible about twenty or twenty-five years ago where the current technology would not have been around, so this advance most certainly takes a massive part in their career and lives. Without the advances all three of the artists wouldn’t be able to tell stories within their work in the same way. For instance it is unlikely Takakura and Oldham's work would exists as