How Instagram is changing the way we see art

How Instagram is changing the way we see art

Instagram has transformed the way we consume images, blurring the lines between genuine artistic expression and carefully curated aesthetic. But what happens to "art" when it must also be "Instagrammable"?

The Instagram grid is often a curated visual experience. Smooth color palettes, symmetry, minimalism, and trendy filters. This has created something where aesthetic appeal sometimes trumps conceptual depth. Art traditionally invites contemplation, discomfort, or questions. But in the scroll-based, like-driven world of Instagram, attention spans are short. The demand is for visuals that grab attention in less than three seconds. So is aesthetics the enemy of art? Not necessarily. Many artists have adapted their work to thrive online without sacrificing meaning. However, there's a growing pressure to create work that fits into a feed rather than challenges or disrupts it.

Example of an instagrammable page. We can clearly see the obsession for aesthetics.

In conclusion, Instagram has democratized exposure for artists. But it also means that as an artist, you must navigate through algorithms, hashtags, and engagement rates. Some artists feel their creativity is boxed in by what performs well online. Instagram isn’t killing art, but it is changing it. 

As viewers and creators, we must ask ourselves: are we creating and sharing what matters, or just what looks good in a grid?