I always judge a piece of art by whether I’d put it on my wall. Let me be clear: I cannot afford art, but when I go to museums, I like to picture the Picassos and Monets hanging around my dream house. A startup called Electric Objects knows people like me, who appreciate art, but can’t afford to buy real pieces. Also, the relatively new medium of digital art doesn’t lend itself to conventional art displays. It’s easier than ever to create, but finding ways to show that work off isn’t easy. Electric Objects thinks it has solved the problem. The company’s new EO2 art display aims to be the canvas and picture frame of the future.
Electric Objects launched its first-generation EO1 two years ago on Kickstarter. The EO2 hasn’t evolved much from that first iteration. It’s the same 21 x 12-inch Full HD screen as the original, but it’s now 50 percent thinner and comes with the option for customized frames. Also like the EO1, the display has a matte finish in an effort to make its screen less abrasive and more pleasing to the eye. This kind of worked, but I’ll get into that later. For now, the details.
The EO2 pairs with Electric Objects’ companion iOS / Android app over Wi-Fi to either display works from the company’s new subscription-based collection, known as Art Club, or pieces users upload to share with the public. You can also upload your own images, so in theory, nothing is stopping you from making the EO2 a glorified selfie picture frame, but I think that misses the point. The EO2 shows its worth when cool video art is pulled from Art Club. The display costs $299 and comes with a 30-day Art Club subscription, which can be renewed for $9.99 a month.
I tested the EO2 for about a week and found it to be an enjoyable experience, albeit one that hinges on a subscription service. For background, my bedroom and apartment were supposed to be temporary. I decorated my room with posters from college because I figured I’d move pretty quickly after getting to New York. In reality, I ended up living in this same bedroom for three years and don’t foresee myself leaving any time soon. I could literally die in this room, or turn 50 in here, whichever happens first.