Continuous Shift

Curated by Stina Gustafsson, together with Filippa Forsberg and Marika Reuterswärd from Kristianstads konsthall
22 October 2022 - 19 March 2023
Kristianstads konsthall, Sweden

With works by:
Arvida Byström, Cornelia Sollfrank, Jonas Lund, Marie Munk & Stin Deja, and Sarah Friend.

In Continuous Shift, Kristianstads konsthall has invited six contemporary artists to incite curiosity and create an understanding of the digital development in art.

The intersection between the digital and the artistic has received a lot of attention in recent years. Many have heard terms like AI, crypto, NFTs and blockchain but what do they mean,   and what relationship do they really have to contemporary art? Much of what has been presented in the media as digital art has left us both curious and confused. 

The discussion about humans, machines and art is not new. Centuries ago, the issue was widely debated by thinkers such as Walter Benjamin and Paul Valéry. In the well-known text The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, Benjamin describes his theory concerning the aura of art and its influence on reproduction. Something that became topical again in 2020 when NFTs became a well-known phenomenon.  What is our relationship with technology and digitalisation in an age when they seem to be completely merged? Can the differences between life, art and technology be discerned?  How do professional contemporary artists work with constantly evolving new digital possibilities?  

 The exhibition's multifaceted title reflects on the relentless evolution of our times, and the art world's adaptation of technology, but also critically on the uncompromising expectation of uniqueness and the endless creation of new works of art. A continuous work that is never allowed to cease, and a desire to always discover the latest. Continuous Shift inspires active encounters between art and technology and raises awareness of this relative niche genre. Through physical and visual experiences that activate multiple senses, visitors can experience the digital art world through unique works that demand our attention. 

The exhibition was kindly supported by Region Skåne.

In March 2023, Kristianstads konsthall hosted a symposium that took a deeper look at how technology is affecting the contemporary art world, and what the industry can do to work more thoroughly with the technological development that affects the sector. Speakers included Regina Harsanyi, Jack Addis, Edi Muka, Stine Deja and Marie Munk, amongst others. A summary of the symposium will be released as an e-publication. The symposium is made possible with support from the Nordic Culture Point and Region Skåne.

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