Is an inherent paradox of the digital world that the more easily we connect to others, the more isolated we might feel? Infinite Flux, this meditative loop by artist Jos (Lookattheparkinglot) surreally portrays a seemingly linked but fragmented existence. We see characters bound by what could quite literally be a world wide web, silhouettes that also appear somehow trapped on their own islands in the ‘cloud’. It’s striking how the layered visual language can both paint a picture of togetherness and separation, a duality that feels like the very essence of online communication. One could even see the birds floating from the mosaic tiled ‘stations’ as errant tweets floating through the digital ether. These same tiles, when one takes a closer look, are indeed discovered to be in infinite flux, as we see distinct patterns form and fade on their surface. The tone of the work is mediative and welcoming, enhanced by the soothing rhythm of the artist’s own music accompanying the piece.
I love the soft pinks and purples of the pastel tints that are a hallmark of Jos’s universe, where within large dreamscapes natural elements merge with imagined architecture. Every small detail feels meaningful, from the infinity symbol marking the right-side wall, to the white particles travelling like migratory bits and bytes across digital air. I was left with a feeling of hope after experiencing the piece, that maybe, although divided, the seemingly lonesome figures also become somehow strengthened by the chains that bind them. Perhaps, like the work itself, isolation could become more imagined than reality, especially once we realise how intertwined the human experience truly makes us. Jos's work, of which I also recommend pieces like NatureVerse and Gallery Of Eternity, exude a serene beauty whilst tackling ideas and subjects both futuristic and important. A hint of utopia always feels present, something perhaps in short supply in the real world these days.
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