Glitch art started to develop in the late 1970s and evolved from its humble beginnings to become a significant force in contemporary culture. If we begin by looking at what glitch art is in a both strict and general sense when it comes to visual expression and style, one could summarize it like this: glitch art is characterized by the purposeful or incidental corruption of digital imagery and video files. The deliberate introduction of anomalies in these media, not seldom technical errors, is central to its aesthetics.
Many of the classical pieces in this genre include visual elements like elongated images, pixelation, colour degradation, and double exposure. Since the emergence of glitch art as an expression and art form, esthetics have of course evolved and glitch art can be seen in many different variations and accents if we use the comparison of art forms with languages.
Traditionally, artists working with glitches engage in a combination of digital and analogue methodologies, including manipulation of pixels, the use of magnets, and the tampering with physical media formats such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Glitch art’s essence lies in subverting traditional notions of visual perfection and technology to something new.
The history of glitch art
Glitch art starts to develop in the early computing era, where programmers deliberately introduced bugs or errors into their coding, to investigate the unpredictable consequences that might transpire.
A big group of notable artists has played a pivotal role in shaping the ethos of glitch art. Visionaries such as Len Lye is one of them, whose film A Colour Box (1935) featured glitches. Nam June Paik with his video sculpture TV Magnet (1965), laid early foundations is another prominent name in the genre.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the development of glitch art was propelled forward, particularly by the emergence of digital editing software such as Adobe Photoshop and Apple’s Final Cut Pro. These technological advancements facilitated a democratization of glitch art, granting accessibility to a broader audience. In the mid-90s, the term glitch extended into music, such as electronica and experimental music. Gradually, glitch art evolved into an overarching term encompassing a diverse spectrum of visual and audio artistic creations.
This evolution from humble computing origins to a phenomenon entrenched within popular culture highlights the genre’s adaptability to contemporary digital landscapes. Glitch art has transcended its niche origins, establishing a presence in various art forms, advertising, music, and entertainment, thus challenging the conventions of traditional artistic expression and fostering exploration and innovation.
While it took time to gain recognition, a crucial moment for the art form arrived in 2009 with the online posting of Digital TV Dinner a pioneering glitch art piece by Jamie Fenton, Raul Zaritsky, and Dick Ainsworth.
Artists and influences
Prominent glitch artists such as Len Lye, Nam June Paik, Daniel Temkin and Rosa Menkman, have like many others drawn inspiration from earlier art forms. These artists skillfully merged the aesthetics of past movements with the possibilities offered by contemporary technology, resulting in the evolution of glitch art as a unique and influential genre.
Cubism is one movement often mentioned as an inspiration to glitch artists. The cubist movement’s deconstruction of traditional visual perspectives can certainly have played a role in glitch artists’ intent to embrace imperfections and errors as integral components of their creative expression.
The glitch aesthetic has also seeped into other art forms and movements, impacting the broader art world and enhancing the creative exploration of imperfections in the digital age. This movement continues to adapt and innovate, now venturing into the world of artificial intelligence and NFTs.
In the contemporary digital landscape as such, GIFs have emerged as a form of expression reminiscent of early glitch art. These looping files encapsulate the essence of the glitch aesthetic, where a single file perpetually recycles its media content, inviting viewers to embrace the beauty in the repetition of errors and anomalies.
Glitch art, Nfts and wb 3
Glitch art has seamlessly integrated into the realm of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) and the broader Web3 movement. Emerging as a contemporary artistic expression within the NFT space, it symbolizes the capacity of errors having aesthetic as well as intellectual appeal and thus becoming art. The fusion of glitch art with NFTs and Web3 underscores its resilience and adaptability in the dynamic digital landscape.
This contemporary art form has found its place among a growing group of acclaimed artists, including XCOPY, Dawnia Darkstone (known as Letsglitchit), Neurocolor, Wondermundo, Sky Goodman and numerous others. Their presence within the NFT space and the Web3 movement underscores the enduring appeal and evolutionary capacity of glitch art.
Another example is Lucas Berns, who stands as a stalwart within the glitch art scene, distinguished by his relentless quest for artistic evolution, perpetually seeking new avenues to expand the horizons of his creative work. You can read an interview we made with Lucas Berns here.
Summary – transforming errors into art
Glitch art unapologetically celebrates the aesthetics of technological mishaps and imperfections, challenging the prevailing expectation of seamless, flawless technology. In this genre, the deliberate exploration of errors transforms what might be seen as flaws into a captivating and thought-provoking visual language, redefining our perception of perfection.
The influence of glitch art extends beyond its niche origins, also finding a prominent place in mainstream culture. It’s featured in many different media, where it adds a unique visual texture. In advertising, glitch art is often used to convey edginess and a sense of rebellion. It has become a recognizable element in various media, making a lasting impact on contemporary art, entertainment and popular culture as a whole.