Digital Road Trips: The Shifting Landscape of Digital Art Shows

This essay identifies the current qualifier of choice, “new media,” by explaining how this term is used to describe digital art in various forms. Establishing a historical context, the author highlights the pioneer exhibitions and artists who began working with new technology and digital art as early as the late 1960s and early 1970s. The article proceeds to articulate the shapes and forms of digital art, recognizing its broad range of artistic practice: music, interactive installation, installation with network components, software art, and purely Internet-based art. The author examines the themes and narratives specific to her selection of artwork, specifically interactive digital installations and net art. By addressing these forms, the author illustrates the hybrid nature of this medium and the future of this art practice.