The question has vexed mankind for centuries and will doubtless continue to do so for evermore. Of course, many people have attempted to provide answers, among them one Hugh Kenner who is recorded as saying: "It is the apotheosis of solitude.'' Certainly, the description fits Tony Danisz well, since he spends days and weeks of his leisure time creating the dynamic images which have so captured the imagination of viewers both here and in his native Britain, where his work has been sold as greeting cards.

As befits the new millennium, Mr. Danisz has chosen to harness his artistic talents to the wonders of digital technology, with striking results.

Trained in pre-press technology at the Brighton College of Art and Design -- a profession he follows in the local printing industry -- Mr. Danisz initially pursued air brushed art as a hobby.

Then, in 1995, through the personal computer he purchased to further enhance his professional skills, he became fascinated with the software programmes which introduced him to digital art.

"I was amazed at digital art's potential, and found it really enjoyable because the various programmes allowed for so much experimentation,'' he explains.

"With air brushing, if you are experimenting with something and it doesn't work out, you are stuck with it, whereas with digital art you can change things at any time, and some of the effects you get from trying different things are very good.'' If the artist is "amazed'' with the results he achieves, it seems that those who are already familiar with his art here are similarly affected.

"I showed a few pieces in an exhibition last September, and I got a good feeling from that,'' he relates. "People seemed to like my work a lot and said `You should have your own show -- go for it'.'' Thus it is that on Friday Mr. Danisz will realise a cherished goal and open his first one-man exhibition in the Edinburgh Gallery of the Bermuda Society of Arts.

As its title suggests, "Something Different'' will be just that. Modern, fresh, and deceptively clever, the approximately 20 images promise the viewer a visually refreshing and mentally stimulating experience.

In addition to some originals-only pieces, Mr. Danisz will also make available to purchasers a limited edition of ten prints of some others.

It takes the artist anywhere from days to weeks "working on and off'' to complete an image, which he then prints on glossy photographic paper.

"I do three to four hours at a time, and at other times it is two to three days,'' he explains. "It all has to do with the state of mind I am in, and how focussed I am. I have to be very strict with myself.'' There are no such constraints on his imagination, however, which seemingly knows no limits when it comes to creativity.

When asked how he comes up with such unusual ideas, Mr. Danisz responds: "I like things that are a bit unusual -- things that you don't see every day.

When you are completely relaxed and your mind is completely closed off a lot of good things come from that dream time. You wake up and remember something in your mind, and it is stuck there. That is what I try to recreate.'' While he continues his career in pre-press technology, the artist also hopes to expand his digital art hobby to include animation for television advertisements.

"That will involve a whole new learning process, which can be very interesting,'' he says. "It will use the same sort of ideas I have in my present style of work, and possibly include that style in three-dimensional imagery. I am very keen on getting into making unreal (inanimate) things become real. There are a lot of opportunities if you apply yourself.'' Somehow, you know he will take them all and do just that.

*** Mr. Danisz' exhibition, Something Different, will take place in the Edinburgh Gallery of the Bermuda Society of Arts, upper level, City Hall, from June 16-23. Opening hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and admission is free.

`I am very keen on getting into making unreal (inanimate) things become real' Digital illustrations by Tony Danisz Creative Computing: Artist Tony Danisz (top left) uses a computer instead of brushes to create his art. (Top) `One Night on Venus', (lower right) `In the Red', and (lower left) `Break the Routine' are part of his first installation which opens tomorrow at City Hall and runs to June 22.