The Art of the Scroll: Are We Just Swiping for Satisfaction?
The Art of the Scroll: Are We Just Swiping for Satisfaction?
Explore how our swipe-and-scroll culture shapes our perception of art in the digital age, plus top picks from our Catapult Artist Discoveries this week.
This week on Catapult-Artist Discoveries: a lingering question that’s been with us since the start of our journey—how does the way we consume art shape what we see?
Alongside this thought, we’re thrilled to share five incredible artists who deserve a closer look. Each one offers something unique, something worth slowing down for, and maybe even a pause between swipes.
The Art of Swiping: Are We Consuming or Just Clicking?
Art used to be an event, a showcase an adventure. You’d step into a gallery, stand in awe, or stare contemplatively, contemplating colors, shapes, or simply whether you “got it.”
"What if the most thought-provoking art isn’t optimized for the algorithm? How much do we swipe away, unseen?" This question lingers: does the same thing happen in galleries and exhibitions, or is it unique to the online scroll?
Now, we find ourselves scrolling through a digital gallery – a non-stop parade of images, one swipe away from something more “thumb-worthy.”
Social media has morphed the art experience into a fleeting flirtation. The average swipe takes less than two seconds, which means “stopping to smell the roses” might actually mean clicking "like" without really looking.
How much of this art are we truly seeing? Are we savoring it, or is it more like fast food – bite-sized, instantly gratifying, but ultimately, a bit… unsatisfying?
Artists’ Dilemma: Painting by Algorithm
On the flip side, artists now find themselves not only creating art but crafting it for maximum scroll-stopping power (those who get kind the concept of algorithm).
When did art creation become so… snackable?
For artists, the challenge is real: make something that holds attention longer than a meme or a cat video.
They’re caught between wanting to be authentic and understanding that those precious seconds could be their only shot at a “like.”
And let’s be honest, most platforms are powered by algorithms that reward what’s engaging, not necessarily what’s thought-provoking.
Are We Missing Out?
So, what’s the cost of this scroll-speed art consumption?
For one, we’re likely not engaging deeply. (but if you want to support an artist: you have to engage, comment, reshare: you and your favourite artist benefits from this: engagement).
Art online is often reduced to its immediate “wow factor,” which risks erasing the nuance, subtlety, and, dare I say, the weirdness that can make art truly transformative.
Is the art experience evolving, or are we just losing something in the quest for speed and satisfaction?
Perhaps next time you’re scrolling, pause a little longer – treat that post like a painting, not just a pixelated pitstop. After all, the next “like” can wait.
Key-Take aways
In the end, we love art on Instagram. Yes, we’re an online magazine dedicated to contemporary art in the digital age, and this isn’t a critique of how we scroll or an encouragement to abandon screens for gallery walls.
It’s simply a reflection on how art, and how we consume it, is transforming.
The tradition of art appreciation is evolving—no longer bound by frames or walls but by algorithms and swipes.
As we embrace art in this new format, we’re witnessing an age where creativity meets immediacy, and beauty is one tap away. It’s not better or worse, just different—an evolution in how art finds us, wherever we are.
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