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Essay / Flow in the works of Patricia Piccinini
The definition of flow is a gray area. There are several definitions, the first being that of the dictionary. The dictionary definition of throughput is "the quantity of materials or elements passing through a system or process." However, this definition is quite different from what I will call the “definition of art”. The artistic definition of flow is “a journey or process,” which is what I will focus on in this writing. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay A great example of performance in art would be in Patricia Piccinini's 2006 work, "The Gathering." “The Gathering” is a media video created and directed by Piccinini in 2006, with animation by Dennis Daniel, who has worked extensively with Piccinini in the past with projects such as computer modeling and animation. The central theme behind “The Gathering” is primarily the vulnerability and innocence of a child and in his mind. The use of children is common and repetitive throughout Piccinini's artistic history. According to her: “Children embody a number of key issues in my work. Obviously, they directly express the idea of genetics – both natural and artificial – but beyond that, they also imply the responsibilities a creator has towards their creations. She follows this statement with “Children’s innocence and vulnerability are powerfully emotive and evoke empathy.” The key word in this quote is empathy. Empathy is used in his work to connect the audience to the work and prevent them from being a mere spectator and make them feel part of the experience created by the artwork. The atmosphere of “The Gathering” is disturbing and uncertain. . As a viewer of this work, we wonder what is happening and why, in the opening and following shots we are led through a seemingly abandoned building. When we reach the main stage, the master bedroom, and find the child that Piccinini speaks of so eagerly in his artist's statement, we are confused as to his unconsciousness. Although we are unsure of her situation, her innocence combats the darkness and gloomy ambiance of the rest of the house. His light clothing and aura contrast sharply with the surroundings which appear in tones of brown and gray. As time passes, we as an audience are still unaware of what is going to happen, however, the mood suggests to us that it is not positive. Later, several creatures appear from the curtains that visually resemble rabbits. They surround the girl in a menacing manner and fear immediately fills the hearts of the audience, as the aesthetic of the video set the mood. However, the creatures only wanted to show their babies to the girl, who is still unconscious. And so the video ends, with the mother creature giving birth, an act Piccinini considers "a commonality between species as well as a gesture of independence." The video is confusing and misleading. However, one thing is clear. As an audience, we sympathized with the child and wanted the best for her, even fearing when the creatures approached her visually lifeless body. His innocence and vulnerability in the situation worries us. This proved Piccinini's point that children are emotional beings, who allow others to feel more emotional depending on the situation. So how exactly does Piccinini's work "The Gathering" relate to our modern, technology-driven world? Well, that's an exaggeration, but we.