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National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts
Taiwan Digital Art and Information Center

CrossAbout.jpg Introduction


The objective of this website is to encourage interaction and facilitate the exchange of information between digital artists and people involved in digital creative industries. It also aims at providing substantial resources and support for digital artists. The ultimate goal is to assist in the development of digital art as a strong force in Taiwan's creative industry.

CrossAbout.jpg Digital Art

Digital art has been under development in Europe, North America and Japan for decades. While we can define it as, "art created with the use of digital media as a tool or means of expression," the boundaries of the field are not precisely delineated in the definition. When referring to this art form, terms such as "new media art", "technology art" or "electronic art" have been employed, indicating nuances of material and technology present in the pieces of artwork. Digital art is intimately related to technological advancement. With the rise of photographic and motion picture arts during the early 20th century, the relationship between the creation of art and the application of high technology became clear, close and complex. According to many scholars and experts in the field, digital art can be considered as the art of contemporary times.
The creation and presentation of digital art extends beyond the visual. It involves sounds and ways of thinking. As illustrated by CODeDOC II (Whitney artport, 2003), digital art even has strong bonds with language, symbols and philosophical ideas. Evidently, the boundaries of digital art, high technology, and the new ways of thinking emerging from technological advancement, are deeply interrelated.


CrossAbout.jpg Goals & Vision

Goals 
 1. To converge a wide-range of digital art information and creative forces. The website provides a complete listing of digital artists, artwork and related information, such as education resources, details on exhibitions and events, reports on development trends. It also serves as a platform on which digital artwork can be exhibited, interdisciplinary exchanges can be conducted and information can be shared.

2. To engender systematic organization of local digital art resources. Even though digital art development is still at its embryonic stage in Taiwan, the groundwork is being laid for connecting with international digital art networks in the future. Through the application of metadata and meticulous structural divisions of the information bank, users can easily find the information they need.

3. To promote digital art among the public. The target audience not only includes digital artists and people involved in related creative industries, but also digital art enthusiasts in general. The website contains information for practitioners and creates opportunities for exchange between creative industry professionals, officials, educators, students and researchers. It offers easy access to a wealth of digital art resources for all.

Vision
1. Research Through gathering, organizing and analyzing local and international digital art resources, the website presents the historical and current development of digital art in terms of the people involved, the artwork produced and the industry at large. The website facilitates information exchange, analysis and policy-making. It is an easily accessible gateway to a comprehensive collection of information for professionals in the field and the general public, enabling digital art for all and encouraging participation by all. 

    A. Information exchange A defining characteristic of digital art is that it combines interdisciplinary aesthetic creation with high-tech     auxiliary components. This interplay between art and technology has been going on in institutes for art and technology worldwide. As the focal point for digital art information in Taiwan, this website provides comprehensive and immediate updates on and links to international resources. Through bringing in information from outside systematically, Taiwan can keep pace with international digital art development. Likewise, through converging and presenting local research, the rapid development of digital art inside Taiwan can be revealed to the international community.
    B. Analysis Analyzing digital art can be problematic, with its inexhaustible manifestations, its speed of development and the complexities encountered during the production stage regarding material and technique. The major problems in analysis concern defining boundaries of and subdivisions within the field, as well as describing the techniques employed, content of the artwork and representation of the digital artists' idea. Making full use of the experience gained through gathering information from an array of sources, the website has produced a manual for digital art analysis and guidelines for related issues. They may serve as a frame of reference for digital art research.
C. Policy-making The idea for establishing this website emerged out of the "Cultural and Creative Industries" project set forth in the "Challenge 2008 - National Development Plan". Digital art was then grouped under the category of visual arts. Evidently, digital art is not only about the visual experience, neither is it the digitalization of artwork, nor is it an abbreviation for creative industries with digital contents. This website explores and defines the boundaries of the field, and provides information on digital art through research and analysis. It aims at being a major source of reference consulted by policy-makers when drawing new plans or amending the old. Consultation can be conducive to effective policy-making and usage of public resources.

2. Development Complexities abound in digital art production. To complete a piece of artwork, the creator needs to be in a constant   search for solutions to technological difficulties and resources. Throughout the production process, it is inevitable that new information and knowledge will be had. As the virtual base for digital art development in Taiwan, the website assists digital art creators by offering the requisite support and resources. It methodologically accumulates information on related industries, technologies, and creative processes. It contains a well-structured information management system, coordinates dialogue and exchange, and collects personal creative experiences. Hence, the website contributes to the continuation of digital art development.

3. Information gathering mechanism The website's information gathering mechanism ensures that the suppliers and demanders of digital art resources can conduct complete and fast target searches. The case study mechanism transforms the website from being a passive information resource center into an active base for digital art development. The website sets up case studies, experiments with digital art, and establishes ties with various industries. In doing so, the one-way process of art sponsorship progresses into a two-way process producing mutual benefits. By conducting art marketing, devising brand strategy and participating in product development, the website redefines the relationship between art and business. New possibilities of digital art are explored.