Art

Video Games Are Art and That’s Okay

Published

1 year ago

August 16, 2023

One of my earliest memories is when I was maybe 4 years old and sat in my dad’s lap while he played Wolfenstein, a classic first-person shooter series about fighting Nazis and their demons. Dad would let me hammer the space bar of the keyboard to shoot while he directed and moved the character around. It was just a video game, but it was also an early bonding moment I treasure. That I’ve loved video games as long as I’ve hated Nazis feels highly on-brand.

I love reading too, for its ability to transport and immerse me. The imagination I engage in as I read is one of life’s greatest pleasures and that drives my preference for so-called “genre fiction” like sci-fi or fantasy. Genre is effective marketing, but ineffective in describing the nature of a story. It’s frustrating that “genre fiction” has a connotation of being inherently inferior to “literary fiction.” I’ve always preferred stories that can construct new and compelling worlds with imaginative ideas and it boggles my mind how we could ever see an inherent deficiency in that. My pet theory is that we recreate the stratification we live in wherever we can, even unconsciously, because stratification communicates the relative value we use to make choices. Capitalism colors us all this way. This competition mindset is exhausting when you live within it, isn’t it? I suppose it’s not a shock that in a world where we use AI to automate art before labor, we also assign value judgments to the art we enjoy so that we may compete over that too, but it’s a bummer nonetheless. Just like the very first piece I ever wrote for this site, I’m asking that we interrogate why we stratify the art we enjoy and reconsider what we see as art.

Video games are art and that’s okay! Before I asked that we recognize the political viewpoints in media, but here we’ll be looking at storytelling. That’s all media ever is, really: a vehicle for a story, for a narrative. That’s true whether the form of media is an AP article off the wire or an epic poem; they’re all simply different methods of storytelling and while they all have strengths and weaknesses, there’s not an inherent worth to either of them that places them objectively over any other. That isn’t to say we don’t all have preferences when it comes to the types of media we like to engage with, but those preferences don’t reflect some objective value. They’re just different ways to tell or experience a story.

It’s natural in this light that a love of the immersive and transportive powers of a book would lead me to a love for video games. Reading about adventures in surprising and imaginative worlds inevitably led me to imagine myself within them. With video games, I can participate in a story and experience its world myself in ways that books, movies, and television can’t do. In the same way that books handle internal monologue easier than film or television, video games provide a fourth-wall-breaking experience unique to their medium. A story will not work equally well with each medium, so just as there are stories better told on the page, so too are there stories best told in a game.

The stories of video games are as diverse as you can imagine. Final Fantasy VII is about a world so choked by capitalism and exploitation that the lifeforce of the planet is dying and you’re a disaffected former soldier who’s taken a gig with an eco-terrorism group trying to fight back against corporate overlords. Dynasty Warriors is a long-running series of hack-n-slash games in which you play various mythologized historical figures of the classic Chinese historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms as driving 1980s rock music plays. Sable is a story about coming of age on a desert planet while exploring and meeting people to figure out who you are and what kind of role you want to play in life. Mutazione is about community, family, and healing trauma with magical musical plants. Chroma Squad is an affectionate Power Rangers parody and The Last Door uses pixelated retro-stylings to make imaginative cosmic horror. Papers, Please and Beholder both imagine life as a functionary of a police state. Crusader Kings is a series all about role-playing as a monarch during darker ages and Where the Water Tastes Like Wine is about hearing the stories of Americans struggling through the Great Depression. Baldur’s Gate III is about being infected with a mind-worm that will transform you into a monster and about being able to be as loudly, proudly queer in a game like no other before it. Within video games, you’ll find the same wide breadth of possibility and imagination as in any other media and yet it’s so easily dismissed as lesser-than.

There’s a stigma attached to enjoying video games as a childish pursuit unworthy of real adults, but why? Are we so ingrained with ideas of constant productivity that we have to police how we take leisure too? Maybe it gives someone some small sense of power back, to look at someone else’s taste in fun and smirk at it. It can feel empowering to disempower others, especially in small ways like these. Sadly, we place art forms in a hierarchy as if it’s not enough to live within one in every other aspect of life. Video games can make you think, foster a connection or a community, expose you to new ideas, and challenge you; these are all things we celebrate in other art forms and yet we ignore them in games. There’s a real chance people read the headline and didn’t click and that’s a shame! The arbitrary gates we keep around which art forms are acceptable rob us of our right to just enjoy ourselves. Video games are art and not only is that okay, it’s awesome.

Header Image Source: Raw Fury

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Art

Calvin Lucyshyn: Vancouver Island Art Dealer Faces Fraud Charges After Police Seize Millions in Artwork

Published

1 day ago

September 13, 2024

Harry Miller

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Vancouver Island art community, a local art dealer has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000. Calvin Lucyshyn, the former operator of the now-closed Winchester Galleries in Oak Bay, faces the charge after police seized hundreds of artworks, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, from various storage sites in the Greater Victoria area.

Alleged Fraud Scheme

Police allege that Lucyshyn had been taking valuable art from members of the public under the guise of appraising or consigning the pieces for sale, only to cut off all communication with the owners. This investigation began in April 2022, when police received a complaint from an individual who had provided four paintings to Lucyshyn, including three works by renowned British Columbia artist Emily Carr, and had not received any updates on their sale.

Further investigation by the Saanich Police Department revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Detectives found other alleged victims who had similar experiences with Winchester Galleries, leading police to execute search warrants at three separate storage locations across Greater Victoria.

Massive Seizure of Artworks

In what has become one of the largest art fraud investigations in recent Canadian history, authorities seized approximately 1,100 pieces of art, including more than 600 pieces from a storage site in Saanich, over 300 in Langford, and more than 100 in Oak Bay. Some of the more valuable pieces, according to police, were estimated to be worth $85,000 each.

Lucyshyn was arrested on April 21, 2022, but was later released from custody. In May 2024, a fraud charge was formally laid against him.

Artwork Returned, but Some Remain Unclaimed

In a statement released on Monday, the Saanich Police Department confirmed that 1,050 of the seized artworks have been returned to their rightful owners. However, several pieces remain unclaimed, and police continue their efforts to track down the owners of these works.

Court Proceedings Ongoing

The criminal charge against Lucyshyn has not yet been tested in court, and he has publicly stated his intention to defend himself against any pending allegations. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10, 2024.

Impact on the Local Art Community

The news of Lucyshyn’s alleged fraud has deeply affected Vancouver Island’s art community, particularly collectors, galleries, and artists who may have been impacted by the gallery’s operations. With high-value pieces from artists like Emily Carr involved, the case underscores the vulnerabilities that can exist in art transactions.

For many art collectors, the investigation has raised concerns about the potential for fraud in the art world, particularly when it comes to dealing with private galleries and dealers. The seizure of such a vast collection of artworks has also led to questions about the management and oversight of valuable art pieces, as well as the importance of transparency and trust in the industry.

As the case continues to unfold in court, it will likely serve as a cautionary tale for collectors and galleries alike, highlighting the need for due diligence in the sale and appraisal of high-value artworks.

While much of the seized artwork has been returned, the full scale of the alleged fraud is still being unraveled. Lucyshyn’s upcoming court appearances will be closely watched, not only by the legal community but also by the wider art world, as it navigates the fallout from one of Canada’s most significant art fraud cases in recent memory.

Art collectors and individuals who believe they may have been affected by this case are encouraged to contact the Saanich Police Department to inquire about any unclaimed pieces. Additionally, the case serves as a reminder for anyone involved in high-value art transactions to work with reputable dealers and to keep thorough documentation of all transactions.

As with any investment, whether in art or other ventures, it is crucial to be cautious and informed. Art fraud can devastate personal collections and finances, but by taking steps to verify authenticity, provenance, and the reputation of dealers, collectors can help safeguard their valuable pieces.

Art

Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone – BBC.com

Published

2 weeks ago

September 2, 2024

Harry Miller

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Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com

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Art

Somerset House Fire: Courtauld Gallery Reopens, Rest of Landmark Closed

Published

4 weeks ago

August 18, 2024

Harry Miller

The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”

On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.

Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”

The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.

Blaze in the West Wing

The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.

About Somerset House

Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.

Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.

Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.

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