Julia Cropper

Technomorphis: Artistic Explorations of Humanity’s Dynamic Relationship with Technology

In our society, we are more absorbed in and dependent on digital technology than ever before. Though technology has benefited humanity in many ways, the negative impact has yet to be fully discovered. My work explores the negative aspects of humanity’s relationship with technology, illustrating and foretelling the surreal and bizarre nature of what our world is becoming. I use painting and collage to capture the different aspects of our relationship with digital technology. The oil paintings communicate the permanence of our humanity, with their grand scale reminiscent of traditional paintings, furthering this association with permanence and standing in contrast to the impermanence of the virtual world. The collages are composed of media trivialities from disposable mass-­‐produced magazines made to be consumed, with the images taken only gaining significance after they have been recontextualized. The mixed media piece possesses a physical imposition reminiscent of how we join technology with our way of living, embodied literally through the melding of circuit boards and collage. As a whole, my work offers a thoughtful critique of our changing relationship with digital technology.

Julia Cropper '15

Advisor: Amber Kempthorn