A. Moret
SPRING/BREAK Art Show 2016

What is authorship in the 21st century? What belongs to whom when our most prized possessions are merely glittering digital bits of ones and zeroes spread across a vast ocean of information that can be accessed by anyone at any moment. This is the quandary faced by Los Angeles based artist Sara Clarken. In 2013, a simple, but brilliant image, set against a cerulean background, of a pineapple sliced in halves revealing the insides to be nothing but reflective compact discs, made viral waves. Reblogged over 130,000 times, the image has found its way into numerous magazines, image sharing sites, social media, and even gallery shows and book covers. Yet, the credit to the artist has been lost completely. In an effort to reclaim authorship, and explore methodologies in which artists may regain control over the output of an image, the artist has decided to open a concept web shop that is part kitsch and part camp explosion. The retail space will feature photos of the original pineapple and stolen screenshots on limited edition items such as t-shirts, mugs, posters, stickers, and home goods. The process of regenerating "The Pineapple" onto contemporary surfaces engages the audience in a conversation on digital imagery's transformation through screens, and the afterlife of art after publishing it to the web.