Digital Art as contemporary Practice: A Personal View

Digital art is everywhere, but strangely, it’s still figuring out its place in the traditional art world. I’ve noticed that even now, people hesitate when it comes to calling it “real art.” Some of that might come from the fact that the original work is often a file, not an object. Others might still associate the digital with commercial work, or more recently, with the NFT boom and crash—which I think, in some ways, did more harm than good for public understanding of the medium.

But for me, none of that is really the point.

I didn’t choose digital art to make a statement. I chose it because it feels like the space where I’m most free to create. My background is in graphic design and photography, so I learned early how to use digital tools. Since I left school, I’ve been playing with them constantly, and over the years that exploration turned into a language of its own. It feels intuitive to me now—like second nature. When I work digitally, I don’t have to think about technique. I just follow the idea, the composition, the feeling.

That speed matters. It helps me stay connected to the emotion of what I’m making. I can experiment quickly, try unusual combinations, or undo something instantly. For my process, which often begins with a single photo or detail that sparks something—whether it’s a size contrast, a shift in perspective, or simply an image that feels too beautiful not to use—that kind of freedom is essential.

Digital collage allows me to go even further. I can control scale, match or completely shift colors, bend light or flatten space. I often start with fragments of reality—my own photography, textures, found elements—and rework them until they create a kind of emotional logic. Sometimes I’m chasing harmony, sometimes tension. Sometimes the contradiction is the point.

The question of “the original” comes up often. It’s true that my work begins as a digital file—but that doesn’t mean it ends there. I produce limited edition prints, and I take that process seriously. I’ve tested different inks, papers, and even glass types for framing, just to make sure the physical version reflects what I envisioned. That process is part of the work too. For me, printing isn’t just a technical step. it’s an extension of the creative process.

I don’t think digital art needs to prove itself against other mediums. It just offers something different. It responds to the way we see and live today. Through screens, through endless images, through layers of influence. That’s why I feel it belongs naturally in contemporary art. Not because it’s new, but because it reflects our time.

And honestly, I think people are ready for it. The definitions are loosening. Artists are blurring boundaries. Viewers are engaging more with visual language than ever before. So if digital art still feels a bit outside the frame, I believe it won’t stay that way for long.

In your view, what unique strengths or perspectives does digital art bring to contemporary art today and do you think those qualities are already shaping the future of art?

Thanks for reading,
– Fabian