Creative Commons

This dissertation was written as part of the MA in Art Law and Arts Management at the International Hellenic University. The purpose of this thesis is to demonstrate the trajectory of the intersection of art and technology over the course of time. The research below begins with enunciating the important and pivotal role tools and materials possess in the process of art making. I, conventionally, pinpoint the shift in art practice with the invention of the Daguerreotype. Photography signalized the entrance of the Machine Age in the art space which altered the perception of artworks, revolutionized art making and transformed the way people approached art. The artist’s toolbox was causing internal rift within the art world, questioning the status and value of works of art while it was also able to culturally affect communication within the societal structure. The immersion of technologies in the cultural landscape seemed to happen slowly and gradually but simultaneously all at once since they affected all aspects of society and transformed the very way people received and engaged with information. The incorporation of technology in art has always been a controversial matter, traditional aesthetic principles seemed to be challenged, while some artist groups adapted quickly and made the effort to embrace the new medium, others rejected the new technological apparatus and everything it represented. Art movements have allowed us to perceive how artists employ certain tools and materials to aid them in their artistic expression and materialize their visions. With digital technology it becomes evident that its utilization goes beyond the point of offering aid to bring a creation to life, digital mechanisms influence and shape the very nature of the work from its genesis to its final presentation. To further understand this notion the phenomenon of digital art is studied through the guise of Techspressionism.This dissertation aims to offer an introduction to this contemporary art movement and further investigate the effects of digital technologies in art making and how it is encapsulated within the actual artworks. Keywords: Techspressionism, technology, expressionism, digital technology, computer art