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#3d #auction #arthemort #sothebys
Throwback when i was showcasing the mesmerising world of 3D animation
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Arthemortabout 4 hours ago
The Sotheby’s auction “Natively Digital: Oddly Satisfying”, which I curated in 2023, featured a hand-picked selection of 3D artists who are masters of their craft and world-renowned animators.
These recognised professionals in the creative industries of advertising, music, and cinema create work sure to amaze and inspire. I was proud to support and feature the works of artists like ARC, Andreas Wannersted, Clement Morin, Jon Noorlander, Ryan Talbot, Filip Hodas, Lucas Zanotto, Olivier Latta and more. Many of the artists featured in this sale have been a part of the NFT movement as early as 2020.
Each artist was given the task of exploring the theme of "Oddly Satisfying Video," a well-known internet phenomenon often referred to as visual ASMR. The resulting works of art represent each artist's distinctive aesthetic, concept, theme, and signature style. These mesmerizing pieces have a hypnotic, kinetic nature that questions the legacy of optical art in contemporary digital production, leaving you with an odd sense of satisfaction.
The auction was split into 4 categories
The Masters of Loops
You must have seen these artists’ work before without even realizing. These are the OG’s of Oddly Satisfying videos and masters of loops whose work truly embodies the theme of this auction.
The Hyperrealist Renderer
3D rendering is the process of creating a photorealistic 2D image from 3D models. It is the final step in the process of 3D visualization, which involves creating models of objects, texturing those objects, and adding lighting to the scene.
The Physics Simulators
3D simulation is a computer graphics technique that allows artists to create realistic effects like destruction, fire, liquids, smoke, and particles in their scenes that would emulate how those elements would act in a physical setting.
The Hybrid Animators
In simple terms the integration of 2D and 3D animation. This combination of different techniques allows you to take advantage of the benefits of each technique, and thus create a better animation.
However, beyond their medium, something else tied this curation together
The concept of "suspension of disbelief" was first introduced by the poet and aesthetic philosopher Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1817. Coleridge suggested that if a writer could infuse a "human interest and a semblance of truth" into a fantastic tale, the reader would suspend judgment concerning the implausibility of the narrative. Visual effects and digital animation use similar tricks and tools to magicians and illusionists, with the shared objective of creating a reaction of astonishment upon their audience. In a sense, the wizards of the past and the internet wizards of today both leverage the concept of suspended disbelief. Whether it is pulling a rabbit out of a top hat or generating a seemingly impossible render, both aim to captivate and mesmerize their audience.
The term emerged on the internet forum Reddit after the /r/oddlysatisfying subreddit was established in 2013. Oddly satisfying videos have emerged as a popular internet phenomenon, often referred to as "visual ASMR". They showcase repetitive events or actions that viewers find pleasing and may watch as a form of escapism. The appeal of these videos is thought to lie in the human preference for symmetry, patterns, and repetition, as well as the interest in exploring the behavior of materials and mechanical movements. According to Professor Robert Colombo, watching oddly satisfying videos has been found to cause the release of happiness-inducing chemicals in the brain, including serotonin and dopamine. The satisfaction derived from these videos may also be related to mirror neurons and a subconscious urge toward achieving a "just right" feeling.
Evan Malone, a professor of art and film philosophy, theorized that the appeal of oddly satisfying videos may lie in their portrayal of everyday experiences as cinematic and, in Baudrillard's words, "hyper-real". The effect of watching such videos has been described as a "brain massage" or "lightly hypnotizing", and as a form of psychological self-care to help overcome stress or anxiety. The satisfaction derived from oddly satisfying videos may have to do with mirror neurons, which fire both when one performs a motion and when one watches someone else perform a motion. In a world of chaos and inelegance it can be reassuring to see order, control. If anything, the videos reveal that people with OCD aren’t anomalous in their desire to bring a pleasing equilibrium to their lives. These videos may offer a glimpse into the catharsis that the disorder denies those affected by it.
To briefly conclude:
The works were not just "shiny nicely looking loops". They showcased mastery of visual realistic design and clever uses of sound design to create a deeply rooted sense of pleasure. These artists are part of a long legacy of creators who have sought visual perfection in their art. The works of the artist in this auction have been stolen at numerous occasions and used by social media accounts for their own benefit, but with the rise of NFTs, these artists can finally be credited and compensated for their contributions to the art world. The satisfaction and pursuit of contentment are central themes across many philosophical and religious schools, and the works in this auction embody these concepts within the realm of digital art.
See the auction here:
P.S: This work I did was recently misattributed to a former colleague of mine, which is why I wanted to post it here for the record, curious to have the feedback of fellow curators on those texts I’m still very proud of written at a moment my career was just starting..I will soon post an article on this forum about my latest exibition “KOI NO YOKAN” that I hope could get published here. It’s a continuation of my exploration of artists who not only talk to your brain or heart but to all our senses
Please excuse any English mistakes or editorial errors that slipped into that text; I’m non native, dyslexic, dyspraxic, dysgraphic and dysorthographic, which always rendered my relationship with curatorial writing challenging
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