artist - #2

Olia Lialina - My Boyfriend Came Back From the War

I was reminded by this piece by the work that we have been doing in Adobe Flash. Created in 1996, this artwork is an early example of the use of hypertext and html coding. Lialina creates an animated story in which the viewer has control of the "shape taken on by the artwork. The animations and storyline change based on decisions by the viewer. This is another example of an artist working in a conscious effort to actively involve the viewer.
I find this piece interesting, as we move into using Flash to create artwork that are effected by the viewer. The artist must keep an open mind, and consider all the many ways that a piece should act based on viewer interactions. Creating interactive work can be quite daunting and complicated, as the artist must find that balance between personal artistic vision and audience interaction.