When Harry met Silicon Valley
"But is it art?"
That's the typical refrain when we're confronted by content that tickles the funny bone of our sensibilities. By it's very nature, good art forces us to ask this question of it. But what about when technology has an increasing grip upon the means of production?
Navigating the choppy waters of art meets technology can be as confounding as explaining to your grandparent what a hashtag is.
The delightful dance between the two has led to some fascinating innovations, yet it has also sparked some rather heated debates around issues like trademarking and intellectual property. We're talking about the kind of debates that make a Sunday roast at your in-laws seem like a picnic in the park. This isn't just a discussion held in hushed whispers at modern art museums anymore.
We're living in a world where a digital artist named Beeple sold an NFT piece for $69 million - enough to make your company's annual budget look like pocket change. Granted, this was at the height of the NFT-mania which swept the information superhighway and since then, Opensea has gone to different lengths to change the relationship between artists and their digital creations.
"Art is anything you can get away with." - Marshall McLuhan
Marshall wasn't talking about intellectual property theft, but he might as well have been. The pinch of the matter is, as we dance this digital tango, who owns the melody? And moreover, who should own the art? It's a bit like trying to nail jelly to a wall, isn't it?
Questions abound:
Is it the tech guru who crafted the software that birthed the masterpiece?
Is it the artist who, despite being technologically naive, breathed life and meaning into those pixels?
Or is it the entrepreneur who saw the potential in both, married them, and now intends to profit from their offspring?
Ed Sheeran argues that some of the world’s greatest hits are combinations of 4 chords, and he’s very happy to be outside of a courtroom.
Here be dragons as opportunities abound; from digital art creation to the online art marketplaces, technology is leaving its indelible footprint.
The benefits of this intersection are plentiful. As creatives adopt tech, they breathe new life into their work, pushing the boundaries of what's possible. There's an entire digital Renaissance happening right under our noses and understanding this sphere can open up a world of opportunities – brands are flighting incredible adverts made purely using AI whilst other content producers are also, admittedly, flying close to the sun.
Beware of the pitfalls – trademarking and intellectual property laws are not to be taken lightly. Overstep and you risk a legal minefield. However, navigate it correctly, and you can protect your brand, your ideas, and yes, even your art. So, despite the heated debates and potential lawsuits, the intersection of technology and art can be an exciting and lucrative avenue to explore.
Just don’t forget to keep your lawyer on speed dial, you know, just in case.
