Glitch art is a contemporary art form that emerges from the aesthetic and artistic use of errors, distortions, and malfunctions occurring in digital or analog technologies. This art approach consciously transforms the uncontrolled by-products of technology into an aesthetic tool, exhibiting an approach contrary to the traditional art concept focused on perfection.

^{Example of Glitch Art (Image Generated with Artificial Intelligence)}

Definition and Origin

The word "Glitch" in English means error, defect, or malfunction. The term was used in 1962 by astronaut John Glenn in the American space program to describe unexpected voltage changes in electronic systems. However, some sources trace the origin of the word to the German "glitschig" (slippery) or Yiddish "glitsh."

Glitch art consciously incorporates visual or auditory distortions resulting from unexpected malfunctions of technological systems into the artistic production process. In this context, Glitch is not just a malfunction; it is also a form of aesthetics and expression.

Historical and Aesthetic Background

Formal distortion (deformation) in art first emerged in the early 20th century under the influence of movements such as Dadaism, Expressionism, and Surrealism. However, Glitch art reinterprets this concept in digital media. It was born as a result of the integration of digital technology into art and was nourished by data corruptions occurring in media tools such as CDs, videos, television, and the internet.

Artist Rosa Menkman's 2010 Glitch Manifesto lays the theoretical foundation for this movement. According to Menkman, a glitch is a creative intervention that transforms the meaning of an image or object. Glitch is not just a digital error; it is a visual, cultural, and philosophical tool for inquiry.

Techniques and Methods

The main techniques used in Glitch art include:

• Datamoshing: Creating pixel distortions by interfering with the data stream of compressed video files.
• Databending: Obtaining new and corrupted forms by re-encoding a file with different software (e.g., opening an image file with an audio editor).
• Circuitbending: Creating errors in sound and image production by physically interfering with electronic circuits. It is especially common in music and sound art.

These techniques blur the line between randomness and conscious intervention and push the viewer to question the reliability of digital reality.

Types

Iman Moradi divides Glitch art into two categories:

• Pure Glitch: The transformation of real-time or accidental errors into art.
• Glitch-alike: Works produced to create a distortion aesthetic through the direct intervention of the artist.

Furthermore, according to Somer's classification, Glitch types are:

• Coincidental
• Deliberate
• Planned
• Artificial
• Real
• Found
• Appropriated

Interdisciplinary Influences and Applications

Glitch art is not limited to digital art. Its effects are also seen in the following art fields:

• Painting: Artists like Christopher Wool, Gerhard Richter, and Canan Tolon have brought glitch aesthetics to their canvases.
• Photography: Digital surrealist photographs are created with pixel distortions or data interruptions.
• Video: The perception of time and motion is distorted with datamoshing.
• Sculpture and Installation: Formal deformations are created using intentional data errors in 3D printer outputs.
• Music: Distorted sound samples obtained through electronic circuit interventions form the glitch music genre.

Conceptual and Sociological Aspects

Glitch art contains not only an aesthetic but also a social and theoretical stance. It is a critique against the pursuit of perfection. Glitch breaks the illusion of perfection in the digital world, making visible the "flawed" aspects of both technology and modern life.

According to Rob Myer, a glitch is the disruption of the idealized social order. Legacy Russell, on the other hand, defines glitch as a feminist manifesto concerning discussions on digital identity, body, and gender.