PREPARING FOR MY DEATH

PREPARING FOR MY DEATH (2023) by Aluta Null
In a world where the lifespan of relevance is often measured in mere moments, PREPARING FOR MY DEATH explores the tenuous grip artists have on public attention and the ephemeral nature of artistic impact. This series of digital artworks display the inner grappling that I've found myself having with the concept of death and how it takes place in regards to the relevance and the lifespan of my work. The work's creation involved an interrogation of the fragility of an artist's presence in the collective consciousness, addressing the looming question: When does an artist expire? When does their moment
pass?

The phrase "preparing for my death" is both literal and metaphorical. Originating from a period of profound personal struggle and contemplation, it reflects my deep engagement with the themes of obsolescence and memory in the context of contemporary society. The rapid cycles of trend, the overwhelming abundance of art, and the fleeting nature of social media attention have reshaped the landscape of artistic relevance. These digital works are a commentary on the role of the artist in an era where algorithms dictate visibility and where public interest is as unpredictable as it is transient. In a time when the value of an artist can be so closely tied to their visibility, I questioned what it means to place one's worth in the gaze of the audience. Therefore, in this series, I showcase some of my thinking and examining of the existential anxiety of living under the shadow of an uncertain future, of creating with the awareness that the spotlight may be all too temporary.

Many of the images and GIFs are created with kitsch stock images and modern internet aesthetics, hoping to present the underlying idea of open access and public consumption being one of the core pieces in this philosophical puzzle that I have spent time thinking about. In THE BEST FUNERAL EVER (Eulogy), I invited cultural writer, director, and art curator Faye Kabali-Kagwa to join in the dark humour and present my eulogy. Through PREPARING FOR MY DEATH, I delve into the broader implications of this fragile position, contemplating whether to live fearlessly and create with abandon, or to resign
oneself to the inevitability of obscurity. This playful, yet dark collection is both a personal reflection and a universal inquiry into the impermanence of artistic relevance and the impact of living in an era where the ephemeral reigns supreme.

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Aluta Null is a digital artist and game designer based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Aluta's work has a sharp focus on technology, politics, perception, and pop culture. Through a glitchy lens, Null meditates on what art means, what the digital is, and what their fusion can become.