About the Journal

Umática is a publication focused on the study and critical analysis of the image, artistic creation, and audiovisual production, proposing a transversal approach from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Umática is a refereed scientific journal whose mission is to publish, disseminate and promote texts and essays on theory, art, aesthetics, and contemporary visual culture aimed at researchers in the field of image, sound, arts, and visual culture,

The editorial profile focuses on the processes of creation, analysis, and distribution of contemporary creation through media and other hybrid languages made possible by technology. In this sense, at the discretion of the editorial team and review process, it proposes three types of submissions for publication: Research articles, Visual Essay, and Artistic Creation Projects

Funded by: Department of Art and Architecture, University of  Málaga

Published by : UMA Editorial (Universidad de Málaga)

Diamond Open Access Journal

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Announcements

Call for Papers #08: The Arts at the Intersection: Hybridization and Intermediate Proposals in Contemporary Art

2024-07-08

The Arts at the Intersection: Hybridization and Intermediate Proposals in Contemporary Art

Fig. Alberto Bernal, Mobile (fragment). Piece for garden, walker and moving percussion, version 1, 2015 | © Alberto Bernal


Editors:
Marina Hervás (Universidad de Granada, España) 
Rosa Benéitez Andrés (Universidad de Salamanca, España)
contact: mhervasm@ugr.es y vasm@ugr.es
Deadline: 28/02/2025
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Abstract
For several decades now, and particularly in the digital era, we have observed instances of various artistic disciplines attempting to transcend the limitations that previously defined them. In this context, we encounter a series of proposals that can only be understood through formal hybridisation, that is to say, that no longer fit into the category of deviations from a particular discipline (such as visual poetry, conceptual art, etc.). Instead, they have become constituted as such. This presents a theoretical and institutional challenge in terms of embracing and understanding the limits, scope and drifts of artistic disciplines. In this sense, we propose not only the formal and linguistic revision of the arts, but also the modes of production and the role of the creative person, the conservation of projects and works, or the modification of perception and the deployment of the imagination based on critical ways of thinking about the visual.

Keywords: hybrid arts, intermediality, digital culture, intermateriality, multimediality 

Read more about Call for Papers #08: The Arts at the Intersection: Hybridization and Intermediate Proposals in Contemporary Art

Current Issue

No. 6 (2023): Art-Driven AI: la inteligencia artificial en el arte y el diseño
Portada nº6, 2023, AI DRIVEN ART La inteligencia artificial en al Arte y el Diseño

Exploring the intersection of art and AI: a reflective approach

The sixth edition of Umática presents a thought-provoking examination of the intersection between art and artificial intelligence (AI), drawing on Joanna Zylinska's influential work, "AI Art, Machine Visions and Warped Dreams" (2020). This exploration invites us to contemplate the mutually enriching relationship between humans and technology in the realm of creativity. The issue encompasses diverse perspectives on the challenges and opportunities presented by digital systems in artistic creation, from AI-generated digital media to the ethical considerations in image generation through prompts, as discussed by Professor Juan Martín Prada in "parasitic creativity." In this edition, readers are treated to exclusive interviews with both authors, offering deep insights into their views and contributions to the discourse on art and AI.

The journal also delves into the philosophical implications of the prevalence of simulacra in the AI era, raising questions about the nature of reality and truth in a networked world. This issue underscores the importance of addressing the evolution of authorship, originality, and ethics in art, as well as the need for training in new generative models and critically examining AI's role in contemporary art. Access to AI education, transparency, and equal opportunities are essential to bridge disparities and counter misinformation.

The utilization of AI digital media facilitates the investigation of Collective Visual Memory and Historical Re-collaboration. Through this medium, we can contemplate the influence of AI on our comprehension of the past and propose novel methods of remembrance through AI-generated images, while simultaneously grappling with the potential for falsehoods or remixes within historical narratives. The democratization of AI expands the realm of creative possibilities, yet simultaneously presents ethical dilemmas in integrating various styles and elements within generative systems. This issue brings to light several challenges that must be addressed in the years ahead, bearing in mind the rapid pace of technological advancements in the digital realm.

Cover image:

ZYLINSKA, J. (2023) -Still from A Gift of the World (Oedipus on the Jetty), [Photofilm, 9’25’’, 2021]. |© Zylinska, 2023 (Courtesy of the Author)[1]

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[1] A still from the project of the same name, in which Zylinska revisits Chris Marker's famous apocalyptic photographic film La Jetée (1962), training a StyleGAN2 model with stills from Marker's original, while writing a script with the help of an AI linguistic model.

Published: 2023-11-15

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