It will raise questions on how we relate to each other and the digital worlds we will soon inhabit
From a 3D sculpture made up of fluffy, candy-coloured letters and shapes generated using data from a dating app (Algorithm Actually by Natalie Wong), to lifelike avatars shackled by artefacts that symbolise the trauma of mental health issues (Scars, Skins and Styles: Metamorphosis in the Metaverse by Jamela Law), the six winning digital artworks from the Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize will get you feeling curious, hopeful, and existential all at once.
The artists, which hail from Singapore, Hong Kong and India, were asked to riff on the themes of future cities, digital disruption and sustainability for the second edition of the Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize. And each delivered with unbridled imagination and an assured command of using technological tools for creative expression.
Besides receiving a cash prize of US$10,000 each, the winners were invited to participate in a three-month Art and Technology Accelerator programme, the first of its kind in Asia, where they completed their artwork based on their winning concept proposals.
“Digital art mirrors Julius Baer’s culture of embracing evolution. The Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize virtual showcase celebrates our winners’ exceptional talents and exemplifies our commitment to fostering dialogue about society’s changing priorities and creating value beyond wealth,” says Jimmy Lee, executive board member of Julius Baer Group Ltd and Head Asia Pacific.
You can view the six winning artworks via a ‘meta-world’ gallery here from now until 31 August 2023. It promises to be an intriguing visit.
