Rafael Rozendaal
I found this piece on Rhizome, with only the link to the website and no background information. As a result, I experienced it very purely, as the artist probably intended. Ironically, this piece fit perfectly into my life as it is the week before finals, I much needed freedom from fear and worry. The site is somewhat like a colorful, ever-evolving, rorschach test, mesmerizing the viewer into a state of peaceful euphoria.
After leaving the piece as my screensaver for a few days and enjoying its mesmerizing qualities, I searched for more information about the artist, Rafael Rozendaal. He is from the Netherlands, but is of Brazilian descent. An interesting fact about him is that his great grandfather was a former president of Brazil. I also found a new perspective into his work, as his bio on his website briefly and simply describes his work, and that he creates websites as artwork and then sells the domain. The website remains public, but the new owner's name is written in the title bar. Freedom from Fear and Worry did not have a person's name attached to the website, so I am assuming it is still for sale. I wonder for how much...
While the work itself is simple and aesthetically pleasing, I find his process in selling his work the most interesting aspect. He addresses straight-on the issues of consumerism regarding digital media. He in a sense is creating an original piece of work, just as a painter makes an original canvas, despite the fact that it can be viewed simultaneously by millions across the world. He also questions society's obsession with consumption, as who would spend money on something that can be seem for free... I suppose someone with enough money to do so, the desire for extravagance, and the need to attach his name for people to see.
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