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Paula Cordova
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Kronos: a Curatorial Essay

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

 
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Site: http://www.paulacordova.com/kronosenglish.html