How do we reignite a Renaissance in the 21st century?
This residency explores the revolutionary ideology developed in Renaissance Florence through the works of artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Botticelli in a juxtaposition with the modern on-chain digital art movement. Our discussions will examine the complex political and economic climate of the Tuscan capital and the role artists played in the dissemination of innovative ideas in 15th century Italy and how their creations influenced modern western thinking. We will build on these ideas with workshops led by practicing artists and subject matter experts to teach residents about new technologies and tools for artists to experiment with.
Today, we are experiencing what some believe is the next artistic movement that will have a transcendental impact on the world. The ability for artists to leverage technology to create, share and monetize their work is unprecedented. The artists of this digital enlightenment will demonstrate that you do not necessarily need tangible materials to express ideas and emotions, or to create inspiring beauty that fuels the imagination.
In the case of the Renaissance, it took almost a century to consolidate with the other intellectual movements around Europe. Now the magical reality about this Digital Enlightenment is that it doesn’t have to happen in a single geographic location, and it can happen simultaneously. People don’t have to travel to Paris, Florence or New York to have access to the ideas that these artists are sharing. All that is needed is technology. Technology can accelerate the sharing and recording of information and it can encourage people from diverse backgrounds to participate in dialogue about what we want the world to look like. This residency will exemplify this intellectual approach and use technology in the search of practical solutions to modern problems by reviving the ideology and wisdom of the ancients. The objective is to bring back the Academy of Plato that was revived by the Renaissance artists, and turn it digital.
