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