Flow 2018

Beeple created this digital artwork, "Flow", sometime after the year 2000. The temples in the artwork signal the enduring influence of traditional Asian architectural styles. But the temples are lit with eye-popping neon colours. The juxtaposition of old and new suggests a culture in flux, where ancient traditions are being reinterpreted through the lens of digital technology. The lone figure in the foreground, walking away from us into the composition, is a common trope. Who is he? Is he part of this world, or an outsider looking in? Does his presence critique cultural appropriation? Or is he simply a tourist? These are the kinds of questions we can ask of this work. By researching the context in which Beeple created this artwork, we can begin to understand the complex interplay of tradition and innovation that it represents.