In some ways, Paula Cordova’s
digital art production still seems like traditional paintings
digitized to the Internet. While many Net art pieces
play off the idea of interactivity to web users, “Kronos” does
not allow any users’ choices. However, the way
it was made identifies itself as an Internet based art
production. Unlike in galleries, the audience cannot
choose to browse one certain image longer than others
as the five images loop over and over. Doing such, Paula
Cordova stresses the equity of each linear stage of one’s
life. Also, in my opinion, the looping refers back to
the reappearing of clocks which implies the continuity
of time. This motif of loops can also be observed in
Paula Cordova’s other work, “Round TV”.
In “Round TV”, four human figures continuously
loop around a television, probably a symbol for technology.
Also, the human figure is represented in a suggestive
way which I believe is to imply humanity in general.
I think that it is through the action of looping, the
audience receives an uneasy sensation which stresses
the elapsing of time. The sound effect, to me, plays
the role of an interruption to this continuing circle
of time. The movement of looping and the way the sound
strikes the audience achieve a much greater effect, compared
to the traditional gallery exhibition of paintings. Moreover,
web art, compared to gallery art, allows a more intimate
acquaintance for audience towards the art production. “There
isn’t a [fixed] appointment to look at it. It can
catch [the] spectator’s attention while navigating
randomly,” said Paula Cordova. In art galleries,
viewers look at what has been decided to be displayed,
and they receive the images by the galleries’ intend.
Net art, on the other hand, allows a more intimate interaction
with its audience as it may be displayed before the viewer
when the viewer is not expecting it. In other words,
Net art gets away from the gallery space where the viewers’ engagement
towards the piece is fixed. Viewers are free to interact
with Net art, and free to perceive it anyway they want
to.
Another intriguing feature of “Kronos” is
the way it incorporates surrealism into its depiction
of relationship between people and time. Paula has led
me to understand that, rather than an intended use of
surrealism, surrealism is an influence of her painting
style. However, I have observed that the same style is
incorporated into the depiction of elements of energy
in Paula’s other work, “Energy Maps”.
The surrealistic style, in “Kronos” is used
to describe the subconscious state of man. Through the
surrealistic depiction of time and the juxtaposition
of clocks and man, the viewers get the sense that time
is elapsing against their will. Surrealism also abandons
perspective. Therefore, in this particular critique towards
technology, the images, incorporated with the surrealistic
style, describes no distance. The same technique is used
in the depiction of fire in “Energy Maps”.
The human figure is juxtaposed to a burning fire, which,
I believe, describes the passion within people. The use
of surrealism justifies that one’s sense of awareness
towards desires may be hidden in a subconscious state.
“Kronos”, to me, has been a successful Net
art production, critiquing technologies. The text that
has been incorporated with the images also assures a
clear understanding of the piece, allowing the message
to reach a greater audience, others than the elite. The
use of surrealism has contributed to the piece to further
explain the relationship between technology and time.
It describes the current internet trends to remind the
spectators of the fact that technology is not the solution
to every problem. “Kronos” is another perfect
example of how Net art is starting to distinguish itself
from traditional gallery art.
Written by: Sylvia
Chang |