A future in flux: 5 trends that signify positive change in the art world
Trend forecasting in the wake of Covid-19 is fascinating for many reasons. The usual nature of the formation of a trend involves many cultural, political or perhaps scientific activity over time. These factors, as well as market research and reviews of previous trends, contribute to a largely agreed-upon projection or forecast which is then reported upon in journals and media platforms as a trend. All trend forecasting for a post-Covid-19 world has been either scuppered or will have lacked the usual, significant time period of ‘normality’ within which trends are usually forecasted. The virus has spread quickly and without much warning, so trends have changed and developed in ways no one could predict. As we approach a future in flux, interpreting as we go, it is important to consider the ways the world will change as a result of the pandemic.
And it is an inescapable fact that the pandemic has changed the world in long term, irrecoverable ways. The art world is one of the sectors, communities and industries that has been affected. Although these changes are significant, their irrevocability can be considered beneficial. From the ways in which science and art can comingle to bring about positive change to the breaking down of cultural barriers for a more inclusive world, here are the top 5 trends in the art world that experts have identified so far. They tell the tale of an exciting and diverse artistic landscape, defiant, but also enriched.
The fusion of the arts and science
Science and the arts have always complemented each other in surprising ways. From the elegance Tomás Saraceno’s eco-conscious artworks that demonstrate the use of solar power for human transport to Gabriel Orozco’s ode to biology in his Lotus Leaf series, where every seam, fracture and insect bite of his larger-than-life leaves has been distilled into custom-milled Gampi paper. Art also contributes to the scientific agenda as a visual medium for sharing information. Artists have been instrumental in helping to convey complicated scientific matters from climate change to medical instruction. This is set to continue into 2020 as we rely on the arts for visual representation and dissemination of vital information around the virus. Beyond this practical aspect of the relationship between art and science, the Covid-19 crisis, as many crises have done before, has catalysed the creation of some already iconic artworks such as Banksy’s rat-themed installation in their own bathroom. Not only can this piece be interpreted as a direct response to the chaos and claustrophobia of the lockdown, but it also rings of the scientific, macabre messaging around the devastating 17th-Century Great Plague of London. The scientific tradition has been oft represented in contemporary art of the time, and we won’t see an end to this any time soon.
Artists’ choice of materials will become more conscious
It seems that the art world is beginning to consider the environmental and ecological consequences of using unsustainable materials in their work. Lucia Pietroiusti, the curator the General Ecology project operating at London’s Serpentine Galleries, told artnews.com, “This is the moment of the most immaterial art we will have… There is a sense that materials should be let go.” This comment points to the future of art as more highly considered, perhaps in its subject matter, but almost definitely in its manufacture.
...and so, will the movement of artworks between galleries and private collections
The process of art shipping is notorious for its carbon footprint. Moving art around using truck and air freight contributes to the strain on the environment, and this is exacerbated by the art world’s collectors’ penchant for private jet travel to fairs and prestigious exhibitions around the globe. Covid-19 has inadvertently decreased pollution levels all over the world, and much of this is down to the travel restrictions imposed at an international level. In the future, business meetings that would have required cross-continental attendance could take place digitally, saving money and reducing commercial carbon footprints for many companies.
A rise in site-specific commissions
Contemporary society places much trust and value in the points of view of the artists of its time. Artists are playing an increasingly significant role in the direction of some of the most well-regarded artistic institutions and collections, helping guide the mainstream to new cultural touchstones. For example, the MoMA’s recent reopening featured a site-specific commission by Amy Sillman, an American multimedia artist, and the Guggenheim has hosted an exhibition curated by a panel of artists themselves, including Jenny Holzer, Carrie Mae Weems and Julie Mehretu. Expect to see more of artistic thought-leadership from influential and emerging artists of our time via the vast platforms of galleries and museums all around the world.
Galleries and museums will adopt multilingual interfaces
The digitisation of the art world in response to the pandemic has forged pathways to a more inclusive, accessible iteration of the sector. As a response to this, the online art market must cater to a wider cohort of unique users to their online viewing rooms and galleries, and the result may be the inclusion and recognition of non-English speaking artists from more diverse backgrounds. The Nicole Brachetti Peretti Collection has always sought widely differing and interesting artists to contribute to its voice for change and acceptance in the artistic community. As the world is united in its online community from behind closed doors, we will all be privy to a more diverse range of styles, artistic traditions and voices.