Artist Project: Tech influences in contemporary art

(Artist: Harv Glazer / Pornigami Yoko)

By Sonya Davidson

If you're in Toronto this weekend make time to visit the annual Artist Project Contemporary Art Fair on now until February 22nd at the Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place. The exhibition features over 5000 works of art by over 250 artists. 

The Opening Night party last night had many in attendance and three hours was definintely not enough for me. But I had noted just a few of works inspired by social media and technology. 

Christos Pantieras' installation titled "HEY, HORNY, GRRRRR." drew much attention from the art lovers. His works displayed several thousands of letters casted in cement. Within the installation where words and sentences. Curious to what they meant, the artist explained that these were all words that he had encountered through gay hook up apps such as Scruff and Grindr, and how gay men communicate with each other online.

"I'm looking at what resonates with people after they communicate online especially with courtship," says Pantieras. "I'm interested in how they communicate with intent whether it be a romantic or physical intent but what happens afterwards and what's the story that's never told. The sayings and words you see here are from what I've experienced online myself. I wanted to take the digital world and bring it into the real world. 

(Artist: Christos Pantieras/Hey. Horny. Grrrr)

Artist and conceptual photographer Anna Church is incorporating "selfies" into her art by inviting art lovers to upload photos taken with her work and shared on social media using #SelfieWithHipsterBison. During the show, she will add the selfies into the installation - you can see what's already happening by checking out #JustDontCallMeHipster throughout the show. Church's work is playful. She starts by creating sculptures by collecting objects and then layers the pieces to create images that have little to do with what they are made of. Then she photographs them. 

When it comes to design and technology, Karlen Chang's interactive kinetic sculpture is mesmorizing. Titled "KAMIKO", this unique sculpture (suspended in air) response to your presence. The sculpture moves peacefully by changing its shape and colour reminding me of that chinese paper fortune telling game made with paper from my childhood. Chang's work explores the social relationships and behaviours between people and interactive environments. 

(Artist: Karlen Chang/Kamiko)

Catherine Morelli's art takes handmade Japanese papers and transforms them into digital textures. Her works views finer details resembling the complexities of human biology and offers an interesting perspective in a digital world. Morelli was voted Best of the Best in Visual Art and Design at Digifest, Toronto, in May 2014. 

Digital media artist Harv Glazer is known for his award-winning career in film and in the music video industry and now into the contemporary art scene. His eye-catching collection of "PORNIGAMI" is intriguing. The artist explains the inspiration was the thought of taking the image of a simple folded origami crane and then turning it into something more complex. (Yoko shown above)

There are many great artists at this show that are worth seeing!  If you're in the market for some great art by established or emerging artists, or just want to go for some inspiration (and to escape the cold), this is the place for you. Art purchases are mostly done directly with the artists - that means no gallery mark ups!

For more information, visit www.theartistproject.com