Walking through the eye-opening exhibition Difference Machines: Technology and Identity in Contemporary Art, held at Chicago’s Wrightwood 659 gallery, felt like diving headfirst into a storm of inspiration. The work of 17 digital artists on display delves into the impact of the digital world on our collective sense of identity, from race and gender to the surveillance state.
One of the most riveting aspects of the exhibition was the use of video games in the artists’ work. For years, there’s been endless debate about the role of video games in society: Are they art? Are they dangerous? Meanwhile, artists silently incorporate video games into their work, creating virtual worlds that are a sight to behold.
Artistic interventions within games, film recordings, references to video games, and fan art have all carved a niche within the art world. But mainstream recognition has been slow to come. According to Tina Rivers Ryan, curator of the exhibition and the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, digital art, and video game art are still finding their footing in the traditional art sphere.
But the tide is turning. The Museum of Modern Art in New York has held exhibitions on video games and has even started acquiring video games for its collection, emphasizing the design aspect. The question of whether video games can be considered as art is settled. Now, the real query is how contemporary artists can leverage and are using video games in their work.
Out of Your Comfort Zone
A.M. Darke, an exhibiting artist and assistant professor of art and design for games and playable media at UC Santa Cruz, highlights the unique power of video games. They allow you to shape your own story and experiences within the game rather than just being a passive audience.
Darke leverages this immersive aspect of gaming in his art, creating a space where “certain things can happen that do not impact you.”