Abstract
Artists and art theorists alike often emphasize the role of the materiality of physical artworks and yet the broader public more frequently encounters digital images of them (e.g., online collections, social media). We designed a quasi-experimental, field study to compare the two conditions more directly. Specifically, we organized an exhibition in an old chapel in Leuven (Belgium), with 4 artworks by each of 3 visual artists (Patrick Ceyssens, Stefan Peters and Eline Wagemans). This exhibition was titled “Image-Works” because all the artworks display rather complex, multilayered images that require substantial work from the viewer to be appreciated. In addition to 9 stations with different arrangements of the physical artworks in the exhibition proper, we also designed a parallel computer experiment showing high-resolution photos or scans of all the images of the 12 artworks on a large LCD screen, either presented at fixed sizes or with a zoom in-and-out option. All participants viewed both versions (physical and digital) in counterbalanced order, with a video-interview in-between the two sessions, in which the artists explained their way of working, the materials they used, the role of size and viewer engagement, etc. Perception and appreciation were investigated through mobile eye-tracking, rating scales, and questionnaires. I present the initial findings, focusing on the differences in the eye-movement data between the conditions with the physical artworks and the digital images, in relation to the appreciation data. I also discuss the impact of the video-interview as a source of additional context information.
Presenters
Johan WagemansProfessor, Brain and Cognition, University of Leuven, Vlaams Brabant (nl), Belgium
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Visual Art; Digital vs. Physical; Materiality; Eye-Tracking; Exhibition; Appreciation
