Olga Shishko on CIFRA's Role in Digital Art's Evolution and Community Building

Olga Shishko, Chief Art Curator of CIFRA, discusses the platform's mission to contextualize digital art beyond mere online hosting. CIFRA organizes thematic seasons like AI and Any Body Knows, connecting artworks to broader questions through exhibitions, discussions, and educational sessions. The platform extends into physical spaces, participating in events such as Ars Electronica, Art Dubai, POSITIONS Berlin, and the Venice Biennale, where it hosts gatherings like CIFRA Spritz to foster community. Shishko emphasizes that digital art's history spans decades, with pioneers like Harold Cohen, JODI, Manfred Mohr, Vera Molnár, and Analivia Cordeiro often overlooked until recent recognition. CIFRA collaborates with artists ranging from pioneers like Guy Sherwin and Józef Robakowski to contemporary figures such as Claudia Hart, OONA, and Boris Eldagsen, as well as curators including Dominique Moulon and Christiane Paul. The platform avoids tokenization, instead focusing on building cultural relationships through initiatives like the Collectors Club, featuring voices like Iole Pellion di Persano and Alain Servais. Shishko notes that AI's transformative impact lies in reshaping perception and collaboration, not just image generation, as seen in Kristin McWharter's work. She argues that hybrid practices, moving between screen, installation, and performance, remain central to media art's sustainability, citing examples like John Gerrard and Refik Anadol. To ensure digital art's future, CIFRA has established an Artistic Vision Council with members like Lev Manovich and David Elliott, aiming to build enduring cultural structures beyond technological novelty.