Griffith University Professor Dr Jason Nelson returns to Gold Coast post Fullbright Fellowship

DIGITAL poet Jason Nelson has just returned from a year practising his art in Europe. The professor was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship, which saw him serve as a digital artist and visiting professor at the University of Bergen.

Dr Jason Nelson draws his inspiration from his favourite tree at his home near Canungra. Picture: Glenn Hampson

DIGITAL poet Jason Nelson has just returned from a year practising his art in Europe.

The Griffith University, Queensland College of Art professor was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship, which saw him serve as a digital artist and visiting professor at the University of Bergen.

“I transformed 150-year-old library and buildings into digital art spaces, and showed artwork in Denmark, Poland, Ireland and Portugal (as well as Norway),” Professor Nelson said.

Gold Coaster Hinterland local Dr Jason Nelson was awarded the Fulbright Fellowship to be a digital artist and visiting professor at the University of Bergen in Norway for a year. This is a piece of art he created.

“Part of my role was to share with them new methods in digital art and to take advantage of the ‘dark times’ between November and March where the sun only comes out for a few hours a day.”

Dr Jason Nelson in a forest overseas.

Professor Nelson, who was joined in Norway by wife and fellow digital artist Alinta Krauth, said digital art was all about finding “unexpected beauty” and capturing people’s curiosity.

While the genre did not exist two decades ago, it arose in the age of technology and continues to evolve and change at a fast pace.

Gold Coaster Hinterland local Dr Jason Nelson was awarded the Fulbright Fellowship to be a digital artist and visiting professor at the University of Bergen in Norway for a year. This is a piece of art he created.

Every year millions of people view Professor Nelson’s works online, but he prefers to take his art into the real world, most often by projecting it onto buildings or landscapes.

“When you walk into a gallery you expect to see art,” Professor Nelson said.

Dr Jason Nelson with his artwork.

“But if you are walking down the street and you see giant poetic text projected from the top of a mountain ... it surprises people. It takes art to the public ... so it is not behind doors or gates.

“Digital art is meant to capture people’s imagination because of the mystery of it all.”

Dr Jason Nelson from Griffith University was awarded the Fulbright Fellowship to be a digital artist and visiting professor at the University of Bergen in Norway for a year.