"Parallel space" Performance/installation refers to the functioning and creation/consumption process in the Internet and mass media era. It simultaneously occupies several, spaces: real, the local and remote physical site. Virtual space created locally by the artist as in VR_BODY, and others via the Internet, spiritual distributed and local space all linked together creating a junction of distributed space, reflected in the private space, as in 'Free Art' site.

This work examines the transition of art into virtual space and considers the implications of this transition upon some of the components of the art world, including art creation, the artist, the museum, art consumption, art spread and art collection. The assumption is that the use of VR space and computer networks has led to substantial changes in the traditional art world, as we know it. A contemporary artist can become a multi disciplinary creator who can spread his creations electronically to an unlimited number of consumers worldwide. This process disregards the traditional art hierarchy.

A screen from 'Parallel Space' installation

A- local physical space.

B- virtual interactive multimedia 3D space

C- virtual static 2D space

D- virtual multimedia interactive dynamic 2D space.

E- remote physical space.

F- physical/virtual spiritual space.

A picture from installation.

Artwork has become all-encompassing, affecting several senses simultaneously and working as an integrated unit. This mode of creation can change the way an artist thinks and regards his art. Painting a single frame or specialization in one method (oil, watercolor, etc.) no longer suffice; a complex structure is required that includes multimedia and interactive 2D and 3D objects in order to achieve the desirable effect. This type of art creation can be utilized effectively in a parallel space. Within this space, the artist/consumer can become an interdisciplinary creator instead of the master of a restricted area only. A visitor to the space can optionally become an art creator who is able to modify and recreate the work; such an option is unacceptable and impossible in a traditional gallery. The computer and the Internet free artists from time-space and traditional physical limitations.

The lack of a physical location is one of the greatest advantages of the work. Its location on the net enables anyone to access it from any place in the world using only a computer and a connection to the Internet. There are no physical limits of space, lighting, atmosphere or location. The artist\consumer, who can use the virtual space as a part of the artistic creation, thus enhancing the effects of the work determines all of these. The artwork can be any size, color, structure and shape. The work can have qualities that are not possible in the realistic world due to physical or financial limitations. Stunning effects can be created, like a wall covered by animation or a sculpture that ignores the laws of gravity. Viewers can "walk through" the inside of a sculpture and view it from angles that are impossible in the real world. Artwork in virtual space is a manipulation of bits by which the artist\consumer creates imaginary worlds as he pleases. These worlds are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to every visitor throughout the net. Such a work saves the artist the expenses of studio rental and materials. Moreover, there is no need to be 'related' or 'famous' to publish artwork (Rosen,1997).

This new reality has initiated new forms of human relations, and the concept of community is being appraised in a new and different light. We are now witness to "virtual communities" comprised of people who do not necessarily live in geographic proximity to one another but, rather, share opinions and areas of interest. These communities have the potential to fill a significant gap in today's society by satisfying our overriding sense of emptiness and our fervent longing for something genuine. According to Rheingold (1992), virtual communities exhibit signs of sociality, cooperation and mutual assistance among their members. The installation located in a private space is an escape act from the violent hostile world. One of the means of achieving this is by creating a personal space containing preferred items, like the Healing and meditation site.

Recent technological developments have affected the world of art, so that today many artists make use of advanced technological tools such as computers and the Internet in their work. Technological innovation enables artists to enjoy the benefits of interactivity, multimedia, widespread distribution, low cost, equal creative opportunity, accessibility and simplicity. Thus, computer art helps overcome technical, financial, political and environmental issues that have traditionally limited artistic creation. The art world is on the verge of a revolution that will completely overturn artistic conventions and, in fact, our entire perception of art. Computer art is accessible, multi sensual, and interactive; it varies over time and is conscious of the art consumer. These salient features of computer art call for a reassessment of our entire conception of art.

'Free Art' site enables every user creating and consuming art as he wishes. The visitor selects from several images by clicking the mouse. His selection opens a window with random background (one of seven) and random music (one of ten). The windows consist of digital 'ready made' like: images, animations, text and sound. By dragging the components to a desired composition a new artwork is created. The user can also add his own text and mail it to the site. Clicking on it activates few of the objects, the result can be an opening of a new space with another image. In each stage of the creation the user can save or print the work, or reload the same or a new one, with different background and sound. In addition the user can download any original artwork from the site. This mode of creation fits with Joseph Beuys words: "I demand an artistic involvement in all realms of life … Whereas I advocate an aesthetic involvement from science, from economics, from politics, from religion - every sphere of human activity. Even the act of peeling potato can be a work of art if it is a conscious act".

'Free Art' site is a part of 'Parallel Space'* Installation which refers to the functioning and art creation/consumption process in the Internet and mass media era. It simultaneously occupies several spaces: real space- the local and remote; Virtual space created locally by the artist as in 'VR_BODY' 1998-99 and others. In addition there is a spiritual space divided between local space and remote space distributed via the internet, as in 'Meditation and Healing' site. All linked together creating a junction of 'Parallel Space'.

There is no doubt that acting in an integrated real and virtual space will be a main issue in the near future. The artist and the consumer will play a crucial role in designing and characterizing this frontier.

This paper deals with the notion of using the Internet as a healing agent. As a healer I apply several methods for transmitting the healing and peaceful energy: first, by manual direct touch of the patient, second, the remote healing by transmitting the energy to an imaginary location of the patient. Patients will to receive the healing energy is crucial for the success of the healing process. The Internet seems to be a perfect medium for conducting remote healing. Since its establishment the Internet became an agent to a variety of different realms. Its initial purpose was a communication backup system, or functioning conservation aid in a case of atomic attack on the USA. Its scientific, commercial, educational, media, and other uses are self-evident. Recently the Internet serves as life-sustaining system, like in Eduardo Kac's "Teleporting an Unknown State"(1996) in which photosynthesis and growth of a living organism depended on anonymous Internet participants. Other examples, are the sacred temple and symbols generator in Niranja Raja virtual sculpture (1998). This parallelism between the cyber and spiritual world, and the double consciousness is discussed in Roy Ascott's paper: "Seeing Double: spiritism, cyberception and the technology of transcendence" (1998). The Internet as a mutual organ vessel, which is nourished by the users of the virtual community, is described in Avi Rosen's "New Order Art" paper (1998).

For materializing the idea of remote healing a www site was established. Mutual concentration and meditation "charges" the site with healing power and good will. The site hosts unification of the two energies. On one hand the healer's energy, transmitted via the Internet, appears on the site as a charged image, on the other hand the patient's receptive energy, materialized by addressing the site, and meditating on the image. The site becomes a virtual meditative gathering place, of good will, cure, and peace. An internal mechanism changes the site appearance relatively to the number of visitors. This fact also creates a psycho feedback, which indicates a reaction to the visitors' application. The Interactive nature of the site gives the visitor a sensation of consent, and belonging. Constant modification of the site suggests that an amount of participants are sharing its service, and as a by-product a new community of mutual awareness is established. The Internet, which symbolizes the cutting edge of technology, enables spiritual and other 'non-scientific' practices to take place. The Internet forms a new symbiotic and spiritual environment, where all its participants donate to the nourishment of the new mutual organ, which has also artistic characteristics. This quality well fits our era of holistic approach, in which opposed conceptions can co-exist in the same environment, or even in the same person. Joseph Beuys advocated a fusion of rational and extra-rational knowledge and creativity: "I demand an artistic involvement in all realms of life … Whereas I advocate an aesthetic involvement from science, from economics, from politics, from religion - every sphere of human activity. Even the act of peeling potato can be a work of art if it is a conscious act". (Zurbrugg, 1993).

Bibliography

Ascott R. (1998) "Seeing Double: spiritism, cyberseption and the technology of transcendence" Camera Obscura, School of Art, Art magazine, Israel. Issue No.7. 19-24.

Kac E. (1996). "Teleporting an Unknown State". www.ekac.org.

Raja N. and R. Srinivasan (1998). "Sacred Art In Digital Era: Or The Internet Place In The Heart". CaiiA - Star 2nd International CaiiA Research Conference Abstracts.

Rosen A. (1998). "New Order Art" Order/Disorder ISIS SYMMETRY The Fourth International Congress and Exhibition. Technion, Haifa, Israel.

Zurbrugg, N. (1993). The Parameters of Postmodernism. U.S.A: South Illinois University Press. 60.