The art of filters

First appeared on the screens of our phones to edit our photos, filters have become more and more popular in the recent years. Indeed, Snapchat application was the pioneer in the creation of original filters, followed closely by Instagram. These filters have now become, for artists in particular, a new medium for expressing their talents. A new form of art that has appeared, once again, thanks to social networks.

Today, filters are part of our life. Since they appeared, they have never stopped evolving. More and more numerous, varied and original, they allow everyone to transform their selfies or pictures in general. Now, people can improve their works and their physical appearance easily. Anyway, men have always loved to transform themselves: make up their faces, wear masks, wigs ... Becoming someone else, in an imaginary and punctual way, has become very simple. With endless possibilities of mixing looks, genres, fantastic or creative inspirations, filters offer many possibilities to become someone else. Thanks to the creativity of users and brands, filters have also become real spaces for artistic expression.

Another concept is to use filters to improve some artworks already recognized as such. But, putting a filter on a work, is it not deceive the one who looks at these works? Indeed, the use of filters is so simple that everyone can easily create a successful work. However, todays things are changing. Thus, since few months, everyone can create his own filters and everyone can use the filters created by others people. It is like an exchange. With this new use, filters are more easily recognized as a true art in it’s own right. Indeed, people must have real artistic talent to be able to create unique filters. We can take the example of Andy Picci a contemporary artist who has created filters that question our relationship with the selfies and our use of social networks. Some filters that highlight our way of looking at the world through screens and the lives of others.

So, after all of this, what will be the next step for filters?

By Chloé