| Ever since Walter Benjamin published his essay "The | | | | photography, sculpture, and sometimes even |
| Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction," | | | | fragrances combinations, she links Eastern spirituality |
| scholars have debated whether mechanically | | | | with modern technology, connecting the ancient Asian |
| reproduced art can have "aura" as Benjamin | | | | past with the global world of today.Mariko Mori's large |
| discussed this concept. The debate has now included | | | | photographs and video installations present futuristic |
| digital art and cybernetic systems, but the question has | | | | scenes that meditate on the profusion of artifice in |
| remained the same. Can a work of art not produced | | | | contemporary culture and extract elements of Eastern |
| by human hands, but by a machine have the same | | | | spiritual thought and art, to express optimism for life in |
| quality or atmosphere as conventional | | | | the next millennium. Mori always stars in her own |
| works?Referring to Benjamin's own definitions | | | | creations and usually presents herself as a |
| regarding "aura", one can argue that it is possible for | | | | computer-fabricated pop star who explores the hybrid |
| "aura" to be present even in digitally produced art, if the | | | | nature of individual identity and its relation to private |
| artist is aware of the spatial concerns necessary to | | | | fantasies and global culture. Cyborgs and avatars are |
| meet Benjamin's expectations. Using as an example | | | | mostly featured in Mori's works, coupled with a healthy |
| the artifacts of Mariko Mori, a Japanese-American | | | | portrayal of the incorporation of modern technology in |
| multimedia artist, the presence of contemporary "aura" | | | | daily life.Inspired by the Buddhist concept that all things |
| is examined in terms of technique, installation, and | | | | in the universe are interconnected, Mariko Mori believes |
| metaphorical qualities of digitally-created art, as the | | | | that art shares with electronic technology, religion and |
| artist appears sensitive and aware of the importance | | | | even fashion photography, the ability to give form to |
| of space and the viewers' perceptions and | | | | our dreams, fantasies and desires. In order to |
| experience.Mariko Mori is a former fashion designer | | | | demonstrate better her beliefs she uses space as if it |
| and model who decided to turn to artistic photography, | | | | was a tangible material. If now one concentrates on |
| video, and performance arts. As a multimedia artist, | | | | the spatial properties of aura, that it has a unique |
| Mori's solo exhibitions in U.S., Italy and Japan have | | | | presence in space through time, electronic media and |
| gained world-wide recognition, as she manages to | | | | digital artists through different approaches can meet |
| take her playful imagery to a new level of literalness, | | | | this requirement. Artists, like Mariko Mori, who can |
| while her dexterity and creativity with innovative | | | | create a unique spatial environment for work that is |
| technologies have resulted in spectacular forms of art. | | | | mechanically reproduced or digitally produced are |
| Her appeal is mainly due to the fact that Mariko Mori | | | | actually able to "transmit" aura through their work. In |
| has managed to combine Western ideals of feminism | | | | other words, an artist can create aura through a digital |
| and Japanese pop culture and express surreal | | | | media by using space. Thus, an artist can contradict |
| thoughts on the subject. By creating her complex | | | | Benjamin's theory about mechanically reproduced art, |
| artifacts, nearly life-size installations of video, | | | | by simply following his own definition. |