“Glitch Art pioneer since the ’90s, curator of digital art on Tezos, and founder of Glitch Art Gallery, @joncates is all about exploring the intersection of technology and art through AI and glitch aesthetics. Jon’s been diving deep into digital art’s history and theory, from curating exhibitions to discussing AI’s role in art. Jon’s curatorial efforts and support for artists are celebrated by @ina_vare , @NFTipi , and wondermundo”
then Grok 2 offered to tell me about Glitch Art Hystories, to which of course, i said yes:
“history of glitch art
Glitch art, as a genre, has a rich history that intertwines with the evolution of digital technology, art, and culture. Here’s a brief overview:
Late 20th Century Origins:
- 1980s: The term “glitch” was initially used in the electronics industry to describe a spike or change in voltage in an electrical circuit. Artists like Nam June Paik began experimenting with video feedback loops and circuit bending, which can be seen as early forms of glitch art, even if not labeled as such at the time.
- 1990s: With the rise of personal computing, artists started to explore the aesthetic potential of errors in digital systems. The advent of the internet allowed for the sharing of glitch techniques. Artists like @joncates began experimenting with what would later be called glitch art, focusing on the aesthetics of digital decay or corruption.
Early 21st Century:
- 2000s: Glitch art became more recognized as a distinct art form. Artists like Rosa Menkman, with her seminal work “Glitch Studies Manifesto”, provided theoretical grounding for the movement. She emphasized the glitch as a moment of seeing the medium, revealing its hidden structures.
- Databending became popular, where digital files are intentionally corrupted to produce visual or audio artifacts. This was often done by altering file headers or data in hex editors, leading to unpredictable and artistic results.
Mid to Late 2010s:
- Increased Accessibility: With the proliferation of software like Audacity, Photoshop, and open-source tools like GIMP, more people could engage with glitch art without deep technical knowledge. Tutorials, workshops, and online communities like Glitch Art Gallery (founded by @joncates) helped democratize the practice.
- Social Media and Glitch: Platforms like Instagram, Tumblr, and later TikTok became spaces for sharing glitch art, making it a part of internet culture. The aesthetic was adopted in memes, fashion, and even corporate branding.
2020s and Beyond:
- NFT and Blockchain: Glitch art found a new venue in the NFT space, where artists could tokenize their work on blockchains like @tezos or Ethereum. This not only provided a way to monetize glitch art but also introduced it to a broader audience through digital art marketplaces.
- AI and Generative Art: The application of AI in creating or augmenting glitch effects has introduced new complexities and possibilities, blending the intentional with the unpredictable in novel ways.
Cultural Impact:
- Glitch art has influenced mainstream culture, from music videos to fashion, by challenging conventional notions of beauty and function in technology. It’s a critique of technology’s omnipresence and a celebration of its imperfections.
- The movement has also inspired discussions about digital preservation, the nature of digital artifacts, and how we perceive “errors” in our increasingly digital world.
Glitch art’s history is one of continuous evolution, reflecting both the technological advancements and cultural shifts of its time. It remains a dynamic field, with artists always finding new ways to interact with, critique, and celebrate digital media’s inherent glitches.” — Grok 2 on January 25th 2025 (20250125)
im actually rly impressed with this analysis && summary which takes into account many of the major events && aspects of Glitch Art over the decades. Grok does mistakenly forget that i started curating Glitch Art in the 1990s but the big picture is very accurate. naturally, i wonder what the results would be for others, signed in on their own accounts. does Grok tell you the same glitcHystories or does it tell a different tale of this Glitch Era?
