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