Iris Kern-Foster’s artistic practice extends beyond the traditional confines of the canvas, embracing the ever-evolving domain of digital media. A pioneer in the field of art and technology, Kern-Foster recognized the creative potential of the internet as early as the 1990s, a vision that led her to pursue studies in audio-visual media arts in the early 2000s. This foundation in digital media informs her diverse body of work, which seamlessly integrates technology and artistic expression. While wall art remains a significant avenue of her creative output, Kern-Foster continuously seeks new frontiers in her exploration of the intersections between art and technology. Her boundary-pushing projects range from interactive installations that blur the lines between the physical and digital worlds to immersive experiences that challenge traditional notions of perception and engagement. This commitment to innovation positions Kern-Foster as a leading voice in the ongoing dialogue between art and technology, a testament to her enduring fascination with the creative possibilities that emerge at their intersection.

Somewhere
“Somewhere” delves into the allure of digital escapism, inviting viewers on an interactive journey through art and technology. By scanning the artworks with the Artivive app, visitors can unlock hidden video files that transport them to different locations or explore augmented reality layers that add new dimensions to the viewing experience. An installation wall featuring the original analog elements that were used in the creaton of the digital artworks, set against a backdrop of Walter Benjamin’s influential essay “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction,” encourages deeper reflection on the nature of digital art and its transformation of traditional artistic processes.

TIVM – Tangible Interface for Video Mixing
“Tangible Interface for Video Mixing” reimagines the digital realm of video editing through the familiar lens of cooking. This interactive installation invites users to step up to a chef’s counter where video clips become the raw ingredients, ready to be blended and transformed. Bowls filled with dynamic visuals become mixing vessels, inviting users to “stir” the contents with their hands, controlling playback speed and direction with intuitive gestures. Tapping the bowl’s edge selects new “ingredients,” while the distance from the center adjusts opacity, allowing for seamless layering and blending. Powered by Max MSP/Jitter, this installation playfully explores the materiality of digital media, transforming the act of video mixing into a tangible, embodied experience. By merging the culinary and the technological, the project encourages playful experimentation and improvisation, empowering users to become culinary auteurs of the moving image.

Myface Generation
The “Myface Generation” series explores the complexities of self-presentation in the digital age, capturing the interplay between identity and online persona. These works examine how individuals curate their image within digital communities, focusing on the dynamic relationship between the portrayed subjects and their chosen environments. Each piece takes as its starting point the individual’s self-constructed perspective, the carefully crafted facade they present to the online world. This curated identity then interacts with the digital realm, generating a dialogue between the individual and their audience. The resulting works capture this tension between the desire for authenticity and the performative nature of online interaction. Visually, the series draws inspiration from the raw energy and immediacy of street art, blending it with the rich textures and techniques of classical painting and drawing. This fusion of styles is further enhanced by the crisp, graphic lines of vector aesthetics, creating a dynamic interplay between the digital and the traditional. The result is a body of work that is both contemporary and timeless, reflecting the complexities of identity in the age of social media. The exhibition was accompanied by a projected animation based on constructing and deconstructing the portraits.