In recent years Info Art has emerged as a unique genre of art form, combining visual information with a wide variety of symbolic representations. Info Art is generally considered to be an abstract expression of the artist’s feelings and ideas. Many artists describe their work in this way, but this is not entirely true. Most modern artists use a combination of digital and traditional media to explore themes such as nature, technology, and memory. An artist exploring this theme could be a painter, photographer, illustrator, writer, computer artist, or even a musician.
The term “Info Art” was first coined in 1988 by the Canadian academic John Trinder. His book was called Understanding Visual Information. Trinder believed that it was possible to express more by using pictures than with words. His concept of Info Art was later adopted by the New York Institute of Arts and later became the basis for the field known as Visual Futures. In this book, he explored the potential of using visual information to suggest a variety of topics and ideas.
Since then, the popularity of this style of art has grown. More artists are choosing to incorporate visual information into their art. In fact, Info Art is often discussed at conferences and art shows as an effective means of expressing a number of complex issues and emotions.
What exactly is “Info Art”? According to Trinder, it is “a hybrid form of visual communication that uses text and images in support of a larger theme, usually a topical one, such as a film or book.” In fact, he goes on to say, “Info art has the potential to become a major subgenre of contemporary art.” How so? Because a large part of what is communicated in an image is a “communication signal,” i.e., a message that is intended to be interpreted literally. Text and images are combined in such a way as to make an abstract statement.
In other words, Info Art “is about conveying feelings and ideas in ways that text and pictures simply cannot.” The beauty of this approach lies in the fact that one does not need a special degree in art to create this type of artwork. Indeed, some of the most beautiful books and art prints were created using only a pen and a small camera. In fact, this form of art is somewhat “handicapped” by the fact that the artist does not have to use his or her mind in order to produce the visual information that is communicated.
In fact, many of the best artists, photographers and multimedia artists do not even have a formal education in the art of creating images or artwork. Many times, they learn their craft through trial and error. As Trinder states, “image making is at the very heart of our personal and professional lives. It is an intuitive process, born of the ability to ‘feel’ things.” He goes on to say, “iences from the experience of making images reveal truths that may not have been previously considered.” This kind of visual information, presented in an appropriate format, is actually more valuable than any formal education that could provide a student with the necessary skills to create these types of images.