Chiho Aoshima is an artist without formal art training. She received her degree in economics. The mural was created by taking the image from a Macintosh G4 computer drawing and creates a large scale print on adhesive vinyl. Chiho Aoshima created the Divine Gas, a mural, just for the lobby.
On the mural, there is this giant woman who is lying in the grass. She reminds me of an anime cartoon – part human but also part of some super power. She is the biggest part of the mural, even larger than the tallest tree. She is nude but covered in long, flowing dark hair. It wraps around her and swirls in the air. The way that she landed almost makes her seem like she fell straight from the sky and landed clumsily on the ground, much like a young infant lying on her stomach. There is a slight halo affect from a rainbow around her head. Because of this, I would think that she would be like a god, perhaps a god or creator of smaller things, like the wind. The clouds behind her are in many cool hues, swirly and twisting from her behind. The giant woman seems to be part of this grouping but also like she is part of the weather pattern or nature. I have a fun sense of humor, so the Divine Gas was really amusing to me. Animals are shown with the woman in the quiet picture. Other people are included in the mural but the woman is the main focal point of this scene. There is a couple in the corner and then people made in the clouds, perhaps a monster of some type or a nightmare.
This is a great piece but I am not sure how others would take it. Here on display in front of the museum is this huge woman farting. It is quite beautiful but once I realized what the gas really was, I was distracted for quite some time by it. I think that it is an effective piece that brings together femininity and farts but at the same time, I am also a little disappointed by it. Digital media can be beautiful but I am also wondering what other way this art could have been portrayed and had just as much of an impact.


-Charlene N.