By Aria Ixchel. Cover Image: Digital Enlightenment Gala and Exhibition at Palazzo Pucci. Photo Jorge Campos, OvlivionMKT.
The concept of a life filled with digital elements—whether as tools or as expressive media like digital art—is becoming increasingly prevalent in everyday conversations and in how we perceive reality. However, it remains unclear whether these digital elements are pushing us away from our humanity or, conversely, bringing us closer to it.
What Do We Mean by “Digital”?
Let’s start by clarifying the term “digital” in this context. Originally, it referred to something related to fingers, but over time, it has come to signify technology-based systems. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, it refers to “a system that computers, the internet, screens, and other electronic equipment can use, in which information is sent and received in electronic form as a series of numbers, 1 and 0,” which represents the binary system.
Digital content includes photos, music, videos, or books that exist in electronic rather than physical form.
Digital Art and Intimacy: A Paradox?
At first glance, the combination of “digital” and “intimacy” may seem ironic. However, the deeper reason for bringing them together lies in how we choose to use technology. Ultimately, it is up to us—day by day, project by project—to decide whether we use digital tools to enhance our human experience. When used consciously, these tools can become powerful instruments for connection with others and with ourselves.
From Fiction to Feeling: How Stories Shape Our View of Tech
One compelling example of this idea appears in speculative fiction, particularly in the Netflix series Black Mirror. In Season 7, the episode titled “Eulogy” follows a man who uses advanced digital technology to revisit his memories as he creates a memorial for his late ex-girlfriend. As he relives his past, painful truths and emotions come to the surface.
Rather than depicting tech as cold or alienating, the episode portrays it as a tool for emotional healing and personal insight. When used intentionally, digital tools can enhance empathy, clarity, and self-awareness, ultimately making us more human, not less. It places the responsibility on us to use technology in ways that support our personal growth and self discovery.
Image from “Faith Exhibition” at Rifugio Digitale, Florence. Photo by OvlivionMKT.
Digital Art and Intimacy within the Rise of IRL (In Real Life) Events
The topic of authenticity in digital art often sparks significant debate. Can art created using tablets, VR, or cameras hold the same emotional weight as pieces made with traditional tools like brushes or clay? Some critics argue that digital creation lacks the tactile connection that comes with conventional mediums.
However, one of the most compelling responses to this debate is the emergence of IRL events—real-world gatherings that focus on the digital art community. These events, often linked to the advancements of Web 2 and Web 3 (the latter promoting user ownership of content), bring people together in physical spaces to share their interests in digital art.
IRL Doesn’t Mean Less Digital — It Means More Human
At its core, an IRL event is about real life and face-to-face interaction. Whether it’s an art exhibition, workshop, concert, or panel discussion, what matters is the physical presence, the conversation, and the shared experience.
A perfect example is the Primavera Digitale Festival, which took place in Florence from March 31st to April 7th, 2025. This event, celebrated as “Digital Enlightenment,” brought together artists, collectors, and curators from across the globe to engage deeply not only with digital works but with the human stories behind them.
Throughout the week, workshops, exhibitions, dinners, parties and performances scattered across Florence created unique opportunities for meaningful dialogue and cultural exchange that go beyond algorithmic connections.
Image from the immersive live VR painting performance “Let Me Bloom” by Andrea Barbara Romita at Palazzo Pucci, Florence. Picture by OvlivionMK.
Conclusion: Closer Through the Screen
Though these examples may seem unrelated—a sci-fi show and a digital art festival—they share a common theme: they highlight how digital tools, when used with purpose, can help us reconnect with our deeper humanity. Not just virtually, but truly.
Ultimately, it’s not the technology that defines our closeness but how we choose to use it—to move toward others, toward ourselves, and toward something real.
