Visual noise in art

how contemporary artists work in an era of information oversaturation

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Nov 11, 2024

Today we see more images in a single day than our ancestors saw in a lifetime. However, how do we find meaning in this endless stream? Contemporary artists are exploring this reality, discovering new aesthetic possibilities.

The age is changing our perception of the visual world. Art is becoming a space where artists explore the impact of information noise on humans, and create works that help us rethink our relationship with the chaos that surrounds us on a daily basis.

Contemporary artists are turning to visual noise, seeing it as a material for creating new aesthetics and a way to explore collective perception and memory.

What is visual noise and why is it important to art?

Visual noise is the excessive and chaotic information that fills our lives. Social media, advertising and digital images create a context where perception becomes fragmented. Artists see this as both a challenge and an opportunity, turning noise into a meaningful visual experience.

In the context of the theme, we would like to highlight the artist Rafaël Rozendaal and his project “Abstract Browsing”, realized as a browser plug-in that allows you to change the perception of Internet pages by turning them into abstract compositions. This artistic exercise shows how technology can be a tool to explore new ways of seeing the familiar.

Rosendahl is inspired by the ability to filter and transform internet code, creating a unique perceptual experience. Like virtual “glasses”, this project invites the viewer to look at the digital world through a new prism, emphasizing visual aspects and freeing them from information noise.


The aesthetics of chaos: what does it look like?

Works inspired by visual noise often utilize rich textures, layered images, light and sound elements. Such works create a sense of randomness, but also draw attention to detail and encourage the comprehension of a new visual language.

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Why do artists turn to noise?

  • A critique of the information age and its impact on the psyche.

  • A search for aesthetic value in chaos.

  • Exploring the ways in which the viewer interacts with an overloaded environment.


Contemporary artists turn visual noise into a source for creative exploration. Art that works with this phenomenon opens viewers to a new way of looking at a reality saturated with data and images.

If you are surrounded by an endless stream of visual information, art can be a tool for understanding this reality.


Rozendaal's official website - https://www.newrafael.com/internet/

Elijah Atlas

author

Poet and critic

We’re delighted to welcome you to our journal. Enjoy the journey!

We’re delighted to welcome you to our journal. Enjoy the journey!

We’re delighted to welcome you to our journal. Enjoy the journey!