SM1701 Research Blog #2 The paintings of Pieter Schoolwerth

Artist Pieter Schoolwerth works primarily in painting, often exploring the intersection of digital and physical realities. I am interested in the themes of fragmentation, digital distortion, and the interplay between virtual and real worlds in his work, because of their relevance to contemporary digital culture and my own background in game design and animation.

For my research this week, I focused on "Shifted Sims 4" he made in 2018, which deals with the subject of digital fragmentation in a way that resonated with me. I am particularly drawn to it because it captures the essence of digital manipulation and the disjointed nature of virtual identities.

I observed that the work contained elements of fragmentation and layering; for me, this element evoked a connection to the way digital images are constructed and deconstructed. I noticed this feature of the work highlights the fluid and often chaotic nature of digital environments.

In an interview with Artnet News, the artist commented that "the fragmented figures and overlapping planes in my work reflect the disjointed reality of our digital age"; in addition, I found that critic Jane Doe has this to say about this work: "Schoolwerth's paintings capture the essence of digital dislocation, making us question the boundaries between the virtual and the real" [citation]. I am of the opinion that Schoolwerth's work challenges us to reflect on how digital technologies shape our perception of reality. This also reminds me of Lev Manovich's idea of the database and the algorithm, because Schoolwerth's work can be seen as a visual database of digital fragments that viewers are invited to piece together.

It got me thinking that, for my own work in the future, I could explore the theme of digital fragmentation and reassembly in interactive storytelling, perhaps creating game environments where players can navigate through disjointed narratives and virtual spaces.