The Intersect of Tech and Art

Juergen Berkessel
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"The Intersect" examines the reciprocal influences of technology and the arts, providing analyses of how tech advancements shape artistic expression and how creativity fuels technological progress. Subscribe for updates on the art-tech relationship. "The Intersect: Art in Tech and Tech in Art" is the audio companion to our celebrated newsletter curated by artist and technologist Juergen Berkessel. The podcast explores the fascinating relationship between creativity and technology, focusing on how advancements in tech influence artistic expression and how artistic innovation drives technological progress. With a background in fine arts, technology and music, Juergen is uniquely positioned to guide listeners through his curations of thought-provoking discussions, featuring in-depth analyses, interviews with pioneering artists, and insights into the latest trends in digital art, AI, and cultural movements. Join a diverse community of art lovers, artists, and tech enthusiasts as we explore various themes, including the impact of virtual reality in art, the evolution of creative tools, and the societal implications of technology in the artistic realm. Let's address the AI elephant in the room: synthetic voices are used, but they're here to help, not replace. Juergen's real work is in the curation process, where his focus ensures the podcast's quality. Without AI assistance, this companion podcast wouldn't be feasible.

  1. The Zoom Problem: What Smartphones Still Can't Do

    1D AGO

    The Zoom Problem: What Smartphones Still Can't Do

    This week on The Intersect, we dive into fascinating stories where art and technology collide in unexpected ways. From SoundCloud's surprising 100% royalty policy to an artist who secretly installed AI art in a museum, we explore how creators are challenging traditional boundaries. Plus, discover the secret art that might be sitting on the Moon, why smartphone cameras still can't match dedicated cameras for zoom, and how pixel art thrives in our high-resolution world. 00:01:29 SoundCloud's Generous Shift00:02:55 The Reverse Heist of Elias Morrow00:06:55 Exploring Smartphone Camera Evolution00:09:06 The Enduring Appeal of Pixel Art00:10:39 Immersive Art Experiences Reimagined00:12:02 Art in Space: The Moon Museum00:14:10 The Met's New VR Experiences00:15:45 Culture and Outrage in Media Episode HighlightsSoundCloud's 100% Royalty Play: Is the platform's decision to let artists keep all distribution royalties a genuine support move or a desperate bid for relevance against Spotify?The Reverse Art Heist: Artist Elias Marrow secretly placed his AI-generated "Empty Plate" in the National Museum Cardiff, where it went unnoticed for days. What does this say about art legitimacy and museum gatekeeping?Art on the Moon: The incredible story of how Andy Warhol and other famous artists may have secretly sent artwork to the Moon aboard Apollo 12, 55 years ago.The Smartphone Zoom Problem: Why even the latest iPhones can't match the versatility of a simple point-and-shoot camera when it comes to optical zoom.Pixel Art's Enduring Appeal: In an age of photorealistic graphics, why does the deliberate limitation of pixel art continue to captivate creators and audiences?d'strict's Immersive Innovation: How this Korean collective is using technology as an invitation rather than a distraction in their expanding Arte Museum network.The Met Goes Virtual: Are the Metropolitan Museum's new free VR experiences truly connecting people with art, or just adding tech for tech's sake?Manufacturing Cultural Outrage: How preemptive criticism of Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance reveals the mechanics of manufactured cultural conflict. Key TakeawaysTechnology and artistic expression exist in a constant push-and-pull relationship, each driving the other forward. When technologists understand artistic principles, they build more human-centered products. When artists grasp technical tools, they expand their creative capabilities in remarkable ways. This week's stories demonstrate how this collaboration continues to challenge conventions and create new possibilities. Connect with The IntersectFor weekly analysis, case studies, and practitioner perspectives from where art and technology meet, subscribe to The Intersect newsletter at THE INTERSECT DOT ART. Join us as we explore the full spectrum of creative technology, from analog processes to digital fabrication, generative design to interactive installations.

    19 min
  2. Remixing Reality: The Ethics of Creative Theft

    NOV 11

    Remixing Reality: The Ethics of Creative Theft

    Episode HighlightsIn this episode of The Intersect, hosts Chelsea and Georgia explore the fascinating world of creative borrowing and artistic influence through the lens of technology. From Leonardo da Vinci's 500-year-old helicopter designs coming to life in modern 3D animations to contemporary artists reclaiming historical narratives, this episode examines where inspiration ends and appropriation begins. 00:00:21 The Ethics of Creative Theft00:01:07 Art and Engineering of Spider Webs00:03:32 Influence of Video Games on Cinema00:05:51 Nuanced Perspectives on Art and Tech00:06:58 Soundscapes of Urban Environments00:10:50 The Comfort of Haptic Technology00:12:42 Reclaiming Women’s Narratives in Art00:15:31 Nature's Dual-Purpose Designs00:15:49 Virtual Reality and Artistic Intent Topics DiscussedLeonardo's Lost Inventions: Discover how da Vinci's aerial screw, robotic knights, and 80-foot crossbow designs are being brought to life through modern animation, revealing the genius of Renaissance engineeringGaming's Cinematic Legacy: How video games from Tron to WarGames established the visual language we still use in movies today, for better and worseThe Sound of Silence: Montreal sound artist Nicola Di Croce creates alternative urban soundscapes by removing car noise, revealing the hidden layers of city lifeMeta's Rating Controversy: The tech giant's attempt to borrow the PG-13 rating system for teen accounts and why it backfiredTouch Technology: TruTru's haptic companion device promises comfort through simulated textures, but at what cost to authentic experience?Reclaiming Art History: Artist Grace Weston uses dolls and miniatures to flip sexist narratives in classical art, giving women back their agencySpider Web Engineering: New research reveals that decorative patterns in spider webs are actually sophisticated vibration-tuning devicesVirtual Michelangelo: Florence's new VR experience uses AI to recreate the master's voice, guiding visitors through the creation of David Key TakeawaysThe episode reveals how the line between inspiration and appropriation is constantly being negotiated across art and technology. Whether it's Meta borrowing established rating systems or artists reimagining historical works, the conversation highlights the importance of understanding both the creative and ethical dimensions of borrowing in our interconnected world. About The IntersectThe Intersect explores the dynamic relationship between art and technology through weekly analysis, case studies, and practitioner perspectives. The podcast and newsletter examine everything from analog fabrication to sound synthesis, providing nuanced insights without polarization. Connect With UsSubscribe to the newsletter: theintersect.artInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theintersectnewsThreads: https://www.threads.com/@jberkesselBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/polymash.bsky.socialSubstack: https://theintersectofartandtech.substack.com/Facebook: a...

    18 min
  3. The Code Was Always There: Looms, Punch Cards, and Computational Thinking

    NOV 4

    The Code Was Always There: Looms, Punch Cards, and Computational Thinking

    From ancient looms to modern algorithms, the threads of computational thinking have been woven through human creativity for centuries. This episode unravels the surprising connections between textile arts and computer science, revealing how punch cards that once programmed Jacquard looms became the foundation for early computers, and how today's artists continue to blur the boundaries between craft and code. Contents00:00:21 Introduction to Art and Tech00:02:09 The Marble Puffer Jacket00:05:30 The Golden Toilet Auction00:09:28 Rebranding NFTs00:11:52 Artists and AI Art00:15:07 The Contradiction of AI Use00:15:42 Astrophotography Winners00:17:19 The Biennale in China00:19:17 Framing Technology and Creativity DetailsThe Marble Puffer Jacket Discover how contemporary fashion designers are transforming classical materials into unexpected forms. What happens when ancient marble meets modern streetwear sensibilities? The Golden Toilet Auction Art world controversy meets blockchain technology in this tale of luxury, satire, and digital provenance. The story behind one of the most audacious art pieces of our time takes an unexpected turn. Rebranding NFTs The digital art world is evolving beyond the hype cycle. Learn how artists and platforms are reimagining digital ownership and community engagement in surprising new ways. Artists and AI Art Traditional artists grapple with machine learning tools in their creative practice. Hear firsthand accounts of resistance, acceptance, and the unexpected middle ground emerging between human and artificial creativity. The Contradiction of AI Use A thought-provoking exploration of how artists simultaneously critique and embrace artificial intelligence. The paradoxes reveal deeper truths about creativity itself. Astrophotography Winners Where computational photography meets cosmic wonder. These award-winning images showcase how technology amplifies our ability to capture the universe's beauty. The Biennale in China International art meets local innovation at this year's showcase. Discover how Chinese artists are redefining the relationship between tradition and technology on the global stage. Framing Technology and Creativity The episode concludes with insights on how we conceptualize the intersection of art and technology. New frameworks emerge for understanding creativity in the digital age. For complete stories and artist features, visit theintersect.art

    20 min
  4. Monsters, Methods, and the Meaning Behind the Making

    OCT 28

    Monsters, Methods, and the Meaning Behind the Making

    When Guillermo del Toro compares Frankenstein to a careless tech bro and declares he'd rather die than use generative AI, you know we're in for something special. This accidental Halloween edition brings you dancing skeletons for science, pixels so tiny they've hit the absolute limit of human vision, and Indigenous artists staging unauthorized augmented reality interventions at The Met. Plus, waterfalls swallowing Chicago's skyline and real art world horror stories that'll make you appreciate how vulnerable creative work truly is. 00:00:25. Monsters, methods, and the meaning behind the making. 00:01:03 From Monsters to Mind-Bending Pixels. 00:02:29 Del Toro's Take on AI and Creative Tools. 00:04:45 The Limit of Human Vision: Tiny Pixels. 00:07:12 Truth and Perception in Photography. 00:12:11 Real-Life Art World Nightmares. 00:15:57 Creativity in Clinical Settings. 00:18:19 Indigenous Artists Reclaiming Narratives. 00:20:12 Artists Creating Their Own Reality. 00:21:13 The Intersection of Art and Technology. Episode HighlightsDel Toro vs. AI: The legendary filmmaker delivers a passionate statement about natural stupidity versus artificial intelligence, drawing fascinating parallels between Mary Shelley's monster and Silicon Valley's latest creations.The Pixel Ceiling: Swedish researchers have finally done it—created displays with pixels smaller than what human eyes can detect. But here's the twist: we're using this perfect technology to recreate the imperfect grain of analog film.Truth Through the Lens: Photo Oxford's new festival tackles the complex relationship between photography and reality, featuring Michael Christopher Brown's innovative use of AI to protect vulnerable subjects while telling their stories.Hardware for Software Problems: Meet Caira, the iPhone attachment that transforms reality faster than you never needed it to, joining the growing graveyard of AI gadgets that mistook trends for actual needs.Chicago Under Water: Elise Swopes spent countless hours manually compositing waterfalls over skyscrapers—work that AI can now replicate in seconds. Does the method still matter when the vision remains powerful?Art World Nightmares: From racist comments on anti-racism prints to paintings sliced up by jealous spouses, Scott Power's annual collection reminds us that art's real horrors are devastatingly human.Dancing for Science: A back pain study participant transforms clinical motion capture into a recreation of Disney's 1929 Skeleton Dance, proving creativity emerges in the most unexpected places.Reclaiming the Narrative: Seventeen Indigenous artists didn't wait for permission—they overlaid The Met's colonial paintings with augmented reality interventions, asking who really gets to tell American stories. Featured StoriesGuillermo del Toro's Stand Against Generative AI - The acclaimed director makes a bold statement about choosing artistic integrity over algorithmic convenience, comparing Frankenstein to a careless tech bro and expressing his concerns about natural stupidity over artificial intelligence. Retina E-Paper and the Limits of Human Vision - Swedish researchers achieve the theoretical maximum of display resolution with 25,000 pixels per inch, recreating Klimt's The Kiss on a surface smaller than a grain of rice. Yet we use this perfection to emulate the grain of analog photography. Photo Oxford Festival: Truth in Photography - Under new director Katy Barron, the festival explores how photography both reveals and conceals reality, featuring Michael Christopher Brown's ethical use of AI to protect vulnerable subjects in his Cuba-Florida migration

    21 min
  5. The Retreat to Analog: When Digital Tools Stop Feeling Like Progress

    OCT 21

    The Retreat to Analog: When Digital Tools Stop Feeling Like Progress

    When a cutting-edge digital musician retreats to his acoustic guitar for therapy rather than production, you know something profound is shifting in how we relate to technology and creativity. This week on The Intersect, we explore why artists are questioning whether easier always means better, and what happens when the tools meant to liberate us start feeling like cages. Episode HighlightsThe Cost of Convenience: Sedat Anar's provocative claim that technology "buries alternatives in darkness" sparks a conversation about Morton Feldman's prescient warnings and why one digital music pioneer now finds solace only in acoustic strings.Spotify's AI Partnerships: Major labels celebrate new "responsible" AI partnerships while 75 million "spammy" tracks get removed—but are the economic incentives really changing, or just the rhetoric?Cultural Narratives and Economic Reality: Miranda Johnson reveals how New Zealand's biculturalism narrative obscures a century of Māori economic development, offering unexpected parallels to our own oversimplified histories.The Billion-Image Question: A coalition of 100,000+ visual artists demands retrospective payments for AI training data, but history's lessons about unwinding technological appropriation aren't encouraging.Photography's Reality Crisis: Paris Photo embraces AI-generated work as evolution, not disruption, while photographers grapple with a medium that once represented truth but now questions what "real" even means.Hybrid Images at Milan's Viasaterna: Nine artists merge traditional photography with sculpture, painting, and generative AI, proving that creative friction around new tools is nothing new.Defining "Slop": Sean Monahan argues that the real distinction isn't human versus machine but generative versus creative—because AI can't choose, only react. About The IntersectThe Intersect is your weekly audio companion to our newsletter, examining the dynamic relationship between art and technology. We explore how computational tools shape creative work and how artistic practices inform technological development, offering nuanced analysis without polarization. Subscribe to The NewsletterFor weekly analysis, case studies, and practitioner perspectives from the intersection of art and technology, subscribe at theintersect.art. Connect With UsVisit us at theintersect.art for more resources, articles, and insights into the convergence of creative and technical disciplines.

    17 min
  6. From Echo Chambers to Gallery Walls

    OCT 14

    From Echo Chambers to Gallery Walls

    Digital art is breaking free from its online echo chambers and claiming its rightful place on gallery walls. From buildings computed into existence through parametric design to chalk murals that save lives, this episode explores how technology isn't just changing art—it's forcing the entire art world to adapt and open up in ways we never imagined. Episode HighlightsZaha Hadid's Computed Architecture: Discover how iconic buildings like the Heydar Aliyev Center aren't just designed—they're mathematically computed through parametric design, where algorithms extend human imagination rather than replace it.Vancouver's $5.7 Million Arts Investment: While U.S. cities debate whether arts deserve funding at all, Vancouver quietly builds its future with over $12 million in annual arts grants, treating creativity as essential infrastructure.Chalk Riot's Life-Saving Street Art: Learn how a woman-led collective's temporary chalk murals have reduced traffic crashes by up to 50%, proving that sometimes the simplest solutions solve our most complex problems.Fraimic's AI-Powered Display Frames: Explore the tension between innovation and fundamentals as new E Ink displays with years-long battery life rush to add AI features before perfecting their core purpose.Microsoft's Evolving Icon Language: See how the same words—"connection and coherence"—have transformed from describing visual consistency to AI's ability to understand intent across ecosystems.The Complexity of Cultural Repatriation: Examine the uncomfortable questions raised when Buddhist statues return to Cambodia while the Cham people who created them remain marginalized.Rebecca Tolley's "Digitalism" at Saatchi Gallery: Witness 60 digital artists claiming their place alongside traditional art, from 1980s Quantel Paintbox pioneers to contemporary AI creators, refusing to be relegated to a "digital ghetto."Angelo Sotira's $22,000 Digital Canvas: Dream about the future of digital art display with Layer, a GPU-intensive platform that compensates artists—if only it weren't priced beyond most collectors' reach. About The IntersectThe Intersect explores the dynamic relationship between art and technology, examining how artists push creative boundaries with new tools while technologists create more human-centered products through artistic thinking. Every two weeks, we bring you analysis, case studies, and perspectives from practitioners at the heart of this intersection. Subscribe to The Intersect newsletter for more stories at the intersection of art and technology at theintersect.art.

    17 min
  7. The Art of Leaving Things Unfinished

    MAY 28

    The Art of Leaving Things Unfinished

    Before we get into this week’s stories, a quick note: This will be the last edition of The Intersect for a while. I’m taking a step back for a summer break, with plans to return in mid-July or early August. I hope these next few weeks offer all of us a little more space to look up, look around, and recharge away from screens. In this edition, you’ll find reflections on music’s disappearing act in the streaming age, digital distractions in travel, and the thin line between empathy and art when it comes to AI. There’s also a look at minimalist design choices, “ghost” furniture, and the connections between ancient Egyptian art and our galaxy. Museums are opening doors again, and the future of architecture takes the stage at the Biennale. Even as the newsletter takes a break, I hope these stories continue to prompt questions about what we value when art and technology cross paths. 00:00 Introduction to Intersect Newsletter Issue 55 00:48 The Ephemeral Nature of Music Streaming 02:26 Digital Play as a Travel Companion 03:53 AI Art and Ethical Dilemmas 05:22 Disaugmented Reality and Minimalist Design 06:48 Ghost Collection Furniture: Art vs. Function 07:51 Ambitious Architecture at the Venice Biennale 09:08 Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Reopens 10:29 Ancient Egyptian Astronomy and Modern Connections 12:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Find the latest episode at https://theintersect.art/issues/55 , and sign up for the newsletter at The Intersect of Tech and Art website

    16 min
  8. Culture Under Pressure

    MAY 21

    Culture Under Pressure

    This week I’m stepping into territory I usually sidestep: politics. Several stories here touch on art’s uneasy relationship with power, public policy, and the ways culture gets shaped—or squeezed—by whoever holds the reins. I know this isn’t our usual beat, so if you’re here for cosmic illusions or the odd bit of digital nostalgia, don’t worry, there’s some of that too. From city planning that treats creativity as essential infrastructure, to the slow erosion of public arts funding in the US, to the blurred lines between propaganda and art, I’ve tried to pick pieces that show just how tangled things get when politics enters the conversation. And if you’re wondering whether technology ever really escapes these forces, there’s plenty here to chew on about AI, public art maps, and what we see when we look up at the night sky. Find the latest episode at https://theintersect.art/issues/54 , and sign up for the newsletter at The Intersect of Tech and Art website Takeaways: Urban cultural planning goes beyond metrics; true “creative wellness” in cities depends on policies that prioritize art, storytelling, and community memory over data-driven efficiency.The ArtVenture project in South Lake Tahoe demonstrates how interactive public art maps can help residents and visitors engage with local creativity intentionally, not just by accident.Astrophotography from advanced observatories often misleads the eye; space images can look dramatic or even supernatural, but they highlight how much we still misunderstand about the universe.Gosha Rubchinskiy’s photo book “Victory Day” at the London Photo Festival re-packages military symbols associated with Russian aggression, sparking debate about the political responsibility of artists.In contrast to Russian art’s recent nationalistic tone, American artists have typically used military and patriotic imagery to question authority, not glorify it.Proposed elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) threatens the entire infrastructure supporting diverse, community-based creative projects in the United States.The shift in arts funding from local, inclusive decision-making to centralized, top-down mandates risks turning public art into a tool for political branding rather than authentic expression.Jörg Colberg’s critique of generative AI in photography argues that these systems flatten creative intent, recycling sanitized versions of the past instead of imagining new futures.The National Ethnographic Museum’s exhibition in Sofia pairs Bulgarian myths about the cosmos with scientific perspectives, showing how folklore and astronomy have always intersected.Tate Modern’s “Electric Dreams” exhibition reveals that artists have experimented with technology and digital concepts long before the internet, challenging the notion that art-tech fusion is a new phenomenon.

    9 min
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"The Intersect" examines the reciprocal influences of technology and the arts, providing analyses of how tech advancements shape artistic expression and how creativity fuels technological progress. Subscribe for updates on the art-tech relationship. "The Intersect: Art in Tech and Tech in Art" is the audio companion to our celebrated newsletter curated by artist and technologist Juergen Berkessel. The podcast explores the fascinating relationship between creativity and technology, focusing on how advancements in tech influence artistic expression and how artistic innovation drives technological progress. With a background in fine arts, technology and music, Juergen is uniquely positioned to guide listeners through his curations of thought-provoking discussions, featuring in-depth analyses, interviews with pioneering artists, and insights into the latest trends in digital art, AI, and cultural movements. Join a diverse community of art lovers, artists, and tech enthusiasts as we explore various themes, including the impact of virtual reality in art, the evolution of creative tools, and the societal implications of technology in the artistic realm. Let's address the AI elephant in the room: synthetic voices are used, but they're here to help, not replace. Juergen's real work is in the curation process, where his focus ensures the podcast's quality. Without AI assistance, this companion podcast wouldn't be feasible.

Information

  • Creator
    Juergen Berkessel
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Juergen Berkessel
  • Show Website
    The Intersect of Tech and Art