What’s love got to do with technology? And other 2023 learnings

Each creative activity—a work of art, an event, anything that we arrange for other people to discover—begins with a promise. The promise of technology is about creating a connection with another being

Before we get to the importance of promise in our relationship to art, technology, — and to each other, here are some of the things I’ve learned this year:

• That young people prefer mushrooms to VR headsets. In a series of articles about the future of art in the Beaux Arts Magazine (‘L’Art en 2063’), one immediately notices that all the op-eds by theorists and curators aged 40+ revolve around AI and technology. On the other hand, statements by artists under 20 focus on natural materials (mycelium), ancestral knowledge, reusing existing resources, and collaborative work with local artists and communities. Not a single 20-year-old mentions machine learning or digital technology, and none discusses a globalized take on a digitally enhanced cultural 'experience.' Established markets and mainstream institutions are considered hypocritical and toxic. I observed a similar trend in the way my nephews (23 and 16 y. o.) and their friends approach their reality and potential futures, but I wasn't aware that it is an actual trend among an entire generation of creatives. None of what is currently happening at the so-called cross-section of art and technology takes this into consideration in countless agency foresights and industry reports on the future of everything. Perhaps our perspective on where the future of arts and culture lies requires a revision.

• That digital experiences should be scarce. I'm not surprised that, contrary to what many middle aged 'evangelists' and futurists may wish for, some people simply don't want to live in a world where they would make a U-turn on a busy highway after realizing they've left their VR/AR headset at home (as per a LinkedIn post I read the other day):

Here's

Scott Belsky

on the topic:

“As our society gets more efficient and tech savvy, we tend to not notice the benefits of community and non-scalable experiences until we lose them. Whether it is the Vegas Sphere or other emerging hyper-realistic experiences like Apple’s Virtual Pro, we should get better at identifying the human components of that make experiences feel special. Hearing people laugh makes us laugh. Seeing people around us light up with amazement helps us appreciate the moment and feel amazed. Singing out loud with friends that know the words builds a sense of connection. And knowing that we’re sharing a scarce and sacred experience with others helps us value the experience more. Whether you’re building a brand, a performance, or a digital experience, you need to consider these human elements as equally important design considerations. Much like early video games started solo but thrived when extended to a community of players, I anticipate that virtual and immersive sport and entertainment experiences will only thrive if they become shared, communal, and potentially scarce experiences. (...) We can also make digital experiences rare and thus more appreciated. Perhaps court-side seats for an NBA game on the Vision Pro should be limited? Perhaps digital art should be published in limited supply much like the physical world?”

• That ‘Technology is always about love’. I declared this fierce statement during a late-night conversation with a friend from the past who shaped a significant portion of my thoughts on the relationship between art and politics. Sitting in a nineteenth-century tavern over moules–frites, we tried to find common ground in how, working in different environments (theatre <> technology) and after ten years of not seeing each other—ten years during which the world we live in has changed drastically—we understand the surrounding reality and our respective roles in it as people who try to shape modern culture. How do you explain the essence of your work to someone you care about, who lacks knowledge in your field, and who seeks genuine understanding of what you discuss?

Here's a note to remember this conversation — and to wrap up 2023.