Paula Cordova (info@paulacordova.com) is an Argentine artist who has been working in computer graphics and animation as early as 1989. In 1995, she started working in the field of web art and began participating in international Net art exhibits. She also teaches sociology of art and art history in Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires. Her Net art series primarily consists of digital paintings, and some criticize the behavior of the Internet and the relationship between man and technologies. “Kronos”, for one, reflects on the relationship between the Internet and time.

“Kronos” is a series of linear images that describe the behavior of the Internet. In “Kronos”, Paula Cordova argues that while distance is disappearing on the Internet, time continues. Furthermore, she criticizes that the assumption that technologies are the solution to all human worries is overly exaggerated. By comparing the way the Internet shortens distance to the way the Internet has no effect over the elapsing of time, she persuades to audience that “time is one of the main subjects that really worries human beings. [It is] associated to death and death as other existential aspects of humanity [cannot] be solved by technologytial aspects of humanity [cannot] be solved by technology.” She reveals that “the linear arrangement represents the linear aspect of life, from life to death.” In “Kronos”, in the looping of images, she demonstrates the way people inevitably face death in the end.

Influenced by the surrealists, she has incorporated the painting style of surrealists into these digital paintings. Also, Paula Cordova produces her digital art pieces in a manner that they are similar to paintings to spectators. One, then, must wonder how the style of surrealism fits into a critic of technology. Moreover, how has the traditional ways of art making integrated to accommodate new technology? Why does art cease to exist on the web? According to Paula Cordova, she chooses to make artworks digitally because “the software allows [her] to make several changes of a same idea, thus [producing] the best result that is closest to the initial idea.” Moreover, in term of displaying, the web allows freedom of expression as the web, unlike galleries, indiscriminately provides a showcase for the production of art. Furthermore, the Net allows for a higher distribution of artworks.

Taking “Kronos” as an example, the parody would not have been achieved if it were not a web art piece criticizing the behavior of the web. To Paula Cordova, a traditional painting cannot avoid the expectation of becoming “a unique masterpiece”. Also, a traditional painting is often made into “an investment or a financial subject”. “Kronos” on the other hand, as a digital art piece, abolishes the assumption that it has to be unique. Paula Cordova wants it to be seen as “a file”, which duplicates to allow higher distribution. She believes that in digital form, “Kronos” becomes more democratic and reaches more spectators. The message of “Kronos” is intended for everyone whom uses technology and whom has access to the Internet.