In the world of Instagram, creating art has turned into a psychological battle for engagement. The algorithm has created a culture of competition, where speed is the name of the game and the more one posts, the more likely they are to be recognized by the algorithm and receive greater engagement.
Gone are the days of creating art simply for the sake of art; now, there is art for the sake of instagram’s algorithm seeking a hit of dopamine, a high that many artists are chasing. Receiving more likes, shares, and saves translates into a sense of validation and a feeling of success, even if we are still broke and unheard of.
Our need for validation has created a subconscious competition among artists, where they feel the pressure to constantly produce and post content, with the hopes that the algorithm will recognize their efforts and deliver higher engagement and the whim that a collector or a traditional gallery will reach out and want to collect our work or seek to represent us.
However, this competition comes at a cost. Many artists find themselves sacrificing originality and creativity in order to cater to the demands of the algorithm. Rather than creating unique and meaningful artwork, many are creating what they think will receive the most engagement, leading to a homogenization of creativity and a saturation of the platform further making your artistic voice more ambiguous.
In this battle for engagement, it is important for artists to remember the importance of creating for themselves, rather than for the approval of the algorithm and social media users. By focusing on their own unique creative expression, artists can maintain their individuality and ensure that their work is true to their vision.
We artists shouldn’t outright ditch instagram, which many artists use as a portfolio in substitute for having their own websites. But being at the mercy of the algorithm gods, we can’t depend on Instagram on the hope of being discovered or praying we make a sale. As artists, we need to look beyond Instagram, and return to the fundamentals. We need to slow down, and create art for the sake of art again. We should pursue traditional brick and mortar galleries, and collaborate with other artists and maybe even rent a space and put on a show together. Think of how artists were discovered and how they made sales before the era of Instagram. Instagram changed, it was a drug that they handed out for free before the algorithm, where you would post your art and your hashtags worked and you would instantly get 100 likes and comments galore, they hooked us, and we have been chasing the Instagram high ever since.
The era of Instagram's algorithm has brought about a new form of competition in the world of art. While engagement can be a powerful motivator, it is important for artists to take a step back and remember why they create art in the first place, and to prioritize their own creative vision over the demands of the algorithm.
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