STATEMENT:Art Online Or Not?

Having taken a safety distance since March, when the Art world as we knew it, due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, was overthrown and a new one rose in the forefront from its ruins, on the occasion of the major art events and exhibitions that were postponed, to be precise, and replaced by virtuals in the World Wide Web, starting with Art Basel Hong Kong 2020. We find that the internet may be the medium that can temporarily meet the needs of Art, Artists, Galleries, Spectators, but cannot replace the actual experience of Art and the physical contact with the Artwork. This is confirmed by the publications made by Art Basel on the occasion of the 50 years since its launch in Basel but also from the efforts, until last minute, made by organizers of Art Fair such as LISTE 2020, which this year celebrates 25 years, to be realized as usual, which ultimately was impossible and at last minute they decided to announce the first edition of Liste’s new online format, “Liste Showtime”. But the bravest of all are the French, that after the online version of the fair in the Summer, while tomorrow Art Paris Art Fair will start at the Grand Palais (10-13/9/20). As for the Galleries and the Museums all over the world, they started their programs from August 25, having taken measures to protect visitors from the corona virus. Therefore, the fear of those who believe that the World Wide Web has replaced Art, is non-existent, just because Art is Life and Life can’t be replaced by its representation.