From the birth of optical art to the advent of the internet age, our world has witnessed the emergence and development of unique art forms that have continually pushed the boundaries of human creativity. This autumn, Tate Modern invites you on an extraordinary journey to the past, where pioneering artists dared to dream of a new era where art and technology are not just interlinked, but inseparable.
“Electric Dreams: Art and Technology Before the Internet” is a monumental celebration of these innovative spirits who crafted a distinct enclave of digital art in a world warming up to the notion of technology. This exhibition will showcase the work of more than 70 international artists who were bold and imaginative enough to draw inspiration from science and create art that tests the limits of our senses.
Featuring over 150 works, many of which are making their UK debut, “Electric Dreams” presents a unique opportunity to see vintage tech art in all its splendor. The exhibition encapsulates everything from mesmerising psychedelic installations to path-breaking experiments made with home computers and video synthesisers.
“Electric Dreams” is set to transport audiences to an era where artists used cutting-edge tools to broaden cultural horizons, and their visions of the future are synonymous with the reality we live in today. The immersive installations bring to life audacious experiments with light, featuring works from artists across five decades.
The exhibition offers a unique blend of individual and group artworks, representing key historic exhibitions, and thus highlighting the shared interests in abstraction, kineticism, perception, information theory, and cybernetics. It underscores the DIY ethos of the time, showcasing how artists developed their own hi-tech tools and techniques, trialing the line between art and engineering.
The journey concludes with some of the earliest artistic experiments in virtual reality, hinting at the rise of today’s digital technology-dominant world.
“Electric Dreams” successfully sheds light on the significance of the art-technology blend in shaping our contemporary digital world, making it an unmissable event for art, history, and tech enthusiasts alike.
