We have become accustomed to the fact that our televisions are more than just rectangular windows to series and movies. They are increasingly becoming places for experiencing art, music, and even a kind of gallery. And this is exactly the direction that Samsungs are heading, which recently took a step forward by introducing their first-ever Art Basel collections to the Art Store. What does this mean in practice? More or less that home walls with televisions can become miniature exhibition halls, featuring works that previously had to be viewed in prestigious galleries on the other side of the world.
Art Basel is not just some random exhibitions, but events for which people are willing to fly halfway across the globe and spend long hours in halls full of art from all over the world. It's a bit like festivals, where instead of rock bands there are paintings, installations, and concepts that can sometimes completely change the way we view what art actually is. It sounds a bit like magic, but it's really just a sign of the times – times in which art permeates our everyday lives and becomes accessible at the push of a button.
What’s nice about this is that Samsung doesn’t limit itself to one style – Art Basel is renowned for its diversity, so within these collections you can find paintings, photographs, collages, and digital installations that are hard to categorize. For those who enjoy art, it’s truly a good "window to the world." For those who are just starting to take an interest in it, it can be a good starting point to see at their own pace what is currently happening in the artistic scene.
These are not things that will save the art world, but they show the growing trend of bringing culture and design into everyday life. Previously, televisions were transformed into large digital frames featuring classic works of art. Now it's time for something fresher, more contemporary, something that is actually happening here and now in the real world of auctions, exhibitions, and galleries.
On choose.tv, we plan to soon test televisions designed for art, such as Samsung The Frame and its Chinese competitor – TCL NXTFrame. We will see how these models perform in reproducing works of art and whether they can indeed turn the walls of our homes into real galleries.
It must be admitted: these are ideas that can give a new dimension to ordinary afternoon coffees on the couch, and visits from friends can turn into little chats about what hangs (or rather: is displayed) on the walls. And although it may sound like slightly exclusive toys, it fits into increasingly common trends.
