9.3 Internet art
7 min read•august 21, 2024
Internet art emerged in the 1990s as a new form of artistic expression, reflecting rapid technological advancements. It explored the intersection of art, technology, and networked communication, challenging traditional notions of creation and distribution.
This digital art movement represented a significant shift from physical to virtual spaces. It embraced online tools and platforms, fostering new forms of , collaboration, and that continue to shape contemporary art practices.
Origins of internet art
- Internet art emerged in the 1990s as a new form of artistic expression in the postwar era, reflecting the rapid technological advancements of the time
- Explores the intersection of art, technology, and networked communication, challenging traditional notions of artistic creation and distribution
- Represents a significant shift in artistic practices, moving from physical to virtual spaces and embracing digital tools
Early internet culture
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Ascii-Art Mapping: SyMAP (or Early Computer Generated Cartography) – SOCKS View original
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Ascii-Art Mapping: SyMAP (or Early Computer Generated Cartography) – SOCKS View original
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Ascii-Art Mapping: SyMAP (or Early Computer Generated Cartography) – SOCKS View original
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Ascii-Art Mapping: SyMAP (or Early Computer Generated Cartography) – SOCKS View original
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Ascii-Art Mapping: SyMAP (or Early Computer Generated Cartography) – SOCKS View original
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Art ASCII — Wikipédia View original
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Ascii-Art Mapping: SyMAP (or Early Computer Generated Cartography) – SOCKS View original
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Ascii-Art Mapping: SyMAP (or Early Computer Generated Cartography) – SOCKS View original
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- Characterized by text-based communication and primitive graphics ()
- Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) fostered online communities and creative exchanges
- Emergence of cyberpunk aesthetics influenced early internet art visuals and themes
- Early adopters experimented with literature and interactive storytelling
Net.art movement
- Coined in 1995 by Vuk Ćosić, term "net.art" describes art specifically created for and distributed through the internet
- Focused on browser-based works that explored the unique properties of the web
- Emphasized conceptual and often subversive approaches to internet technologies
- Key artists included Alexei Shulgin, , and
Web 1.0 vs Web 2.0
- (1991-2004) characterized by static websites and limited user interaction
- Artists primarily created standalone web pages or simple interactive experiences
- (2004-present) introduced and social networking
- Enabled more collaborative and participatory art projects
- Shift from artist-created content to platform-based artistic practices
Key characteristics
Interactivity and participation
- Allows viewers to actively engage with and manipulate artworks
- Blurs the line between artist and audience, creating co-creative experiences
- Utilizes hyperlinks, clickable elements, and user input to shape the artwork
- Examples include Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's "Vectorial Elevation" and Scott Snibbe's "Boundary Functions"
Networked communication
- Leverages internet connectivity to create distributed and collaborative artworks
- Enables real-time interaction between geographically dispersed participants
- Explores themes of global connectivity and information flow
- Projects like "The World's First Collaborative Sentence" by Douglas Davis demonstrate networked art
Digital aesthetics
- Embraces glitches, pixelation, and low-resolution imagery as artistic elements
- Incorporates computer-generated graphics and animations
- Explores the visual language of user interfaces and operating systems
- Artists like Cory Arcangel use digital aesthetics to comment on technology and culture
Pioneering artists and works
Olia Lialina
- Russian artist known for her early net.art projects exploring online identity and narrative
- Created "My Boyfriend Came Back from the War" (1996), an influential hypertext narrative
- Experiments with GIF animations and web-based storytelling techniques
- Critiques the commercialization of the internet through works like "Online Newspapers"
Vuk Cosic
- Slovenian artist who coined the term "net.art" and helped establish the movement
- Known for ASCII art adaptations of famous films and artworks
- Created "Deep ASCII" (1998), transforming pornographic film clips into text-based animations
- Explores the intersection of art history and digital culture in works like "History of Art for Airports"
Jodi.org collective
- Dutch-Belgian duo Joan Heemskerk and Dirk Paesmans, pioneers of browser-based art
- Create deliberately confusing and glitchy websites that subvert user expectations
- "wwwwwwwww..org" (1995) presents seemingly broken code that reveals hidden images
- Explore the aesthetics of error and technological malfunction in their works
Technological foundations
HTML and web browsers
- Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) serves as the basic building block for web-based artworks
- Artists manipulate HTML code to create visual compositions and interactive experiences
- Web browsers act as the primary interface for viewing and interacting with internet art
- Evolution of browser capabilities (CSS, ) expands artistic possibilities over time
Software as artistic medium
- Artists use programming languages and custom software to create generative artworks
- Commercial software (Photoshop, Flash) repurposed for artistic creation and manipulation
- Open-source tools enable artists to modify and create their own software environments
- Examples include Casey Reas and Ben Fry's Processing language for visual artists
Open source principles
- Encourages sharing and modification of code and artistic concepts
- Collaborative development of tools and platforms for digital art creation
- Embraces transparency and accessibility in the artistic process
- Projects like "The GNU Image Manipulation Program" (GIMP) exemplify open-source art tools
Themes and concepts
Virtual identity
- Explores the construction and performance of online personas
- Examines the fluidity and multiplicity of digital identities
- Investigates avatar creation and role-playing in virtual environments
- Artists like Lynn Hershman Leeson explore in works like "Life²"
Information overload
- Addresses the overwhelming abundance of data in the digital age
- Visualizes complex information flows and data structures
- Critiques the impact of constant connectivity on human cognition
- Works like Mark Napier's "The Shredder" deconstruct web content to comment on
Digital divide
- Examines inequalities in access to technology and digital literacy
- Explores the impact of technological disparities on global communication and culture
- Addresses issues of and technological hegemony
- Projects like Heath Bunting's "BorderXing Guide" highlight disparities in freedom of movement and information access
Artistic strategies
Hacking and subversion
- Repurposes existing technologies and platforms for artistic expression
- Challenges corporate control of digital spaces and tools
- Exposes vulnerabilities in digital systems as a form of critique
- The "Toywar" project by etoy.CORPORATION exemplifies artistic hacking and corporate subversion
Collaborative creation
- Utilizes networked technologies to enable distributed artistic production
- Challenges traditional notions of authorship and individual artistic genius
- Creates platforms for crowd-sourced artworks and collective creativity
- "The Sheep Market" by Aaron Koblin demonstrates large-scale collaborative art creation
Generative art
- Employs algorithms and code to create evolving or procedurally generated artworks
- Explores the intersection of human creativity and machine intelligence
- Challenges notions of artistic control and intentionality
- Artists like Manfred Mohr pioneer computer-generated abstract art
Institutional recognition
Online exhibitions
- Virtual galleries and museums dedicated to showcasing internet-based artworks
- Challenges traditional curatorial practices and exhibition formats
- Enables global access to art exhibitions without physical limitations
- Platforms like 's " Anthology" preserve and present historical net art
Preservation challenges
- Addresses issues of technological obsolescence and changing web standards
- Develops strategies for archiving and emulating browser-based artworks
- Explores the tension between preserving original experience and updating for modern systems
- Projects like "Seeing Double" at the Guggenheim Museum highlight
Digital art collections
- Museums and institutions develop strategies for acquiring and maintaining digital artworks
- Challenges traditional notions of art ownership and authenticity
- Explores new models for valuing and selling internet-based art
- The Tate's "Intermedia Art" initiative exemplifies institutional collecting of digital art
Impact on contemporary art
Post-internet art
- Explores the influence of internet culture on artistic production and reception
- Blurs boundaries between online and offline artistic practices
- Addresses the ubiquity of digital imagery and information in everyday life
- Artists like Petra Cortright create works that reflect internet aesthetics in physical form
Social media as platform
- Utilizes popular social networks as sites for artistic creation and distribution
- Explores the attention economy and viral content as artistic strategies
- Examines the impact of social media on personal identity and social interactions
- Projects like Man Bartlett's Twitter-based performances leverage social media for art
NFTs and blockchain art
- Explores new models of digital ownership and scarcity through blockchain technology
- Challenges traditional art market structures and valuation methods
- Enables new forms of generative and interactive artworks
- Artists like Kevin Abosch create conceptual works that explore the nature of value in the digital age
Critical perspectives
Technological determinism
- Examines the belief that technology drives social and cultural change
- Critiques the uncritical embrace of new technologies in artistic practices
- Explores the relationship between technological innovation and artistic evolution
- Works like Zach Blas's "Facial Weaponization Suite" challenge in art
Digital colonialism
- Addresses the dominance of Western technologies and cultural norms in global digital spaces
- Examines the impact of technological infrastructure on artistic production and distribution
- Explores alternative models of digital culture and creativity
- Artists like Tabita Rezaire critique digital colonialism through works addressing techno-spirituality
Surveillance capitalism
- Investigates the commodification of personal data and online behavior
- Examines the role of art in critiquing and exposing surveillance practices
- Explores artistic strategies for resisting or subverting digital tracking
- Projects like Trevor Paglen's "Autonomy Cube" address issues of privacy and surveillance in the digital age
Future directions
AI and machine learning
- Explores the creative potential of artificial intelligence in artistic production
- Examines the relationship between human and machine creativity
- Addresses ethical concerns surrounding AI-generated art and authorship
- Artists like Refik Anadol create data-driven artworks using machine learning algorithms
Virtual and augmented reality
- Investigates immersive technologies as new mediums for artistic expression
- Explores the blending of physical and virtual spaces in art experiences
- Examines the potential for embodied and spatially-aware digital artworks
- Projects like Rachel Rossin's VR installations push the boundaries of virtual art spaces
Decentralized web technologies
- Explores peer-to-peer networks and distributed systems for artistic creation and distribution
- Investigates blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies as artistic mediums
- Examines the potential for decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) in art
- Artists like Simon Denny create works that explore the social and political implications of decentralized technologies
Key Terms to Review (34)
Ai and machine learning: AI (Artificial Intelligence) and machine learning refer to the simulation of human intelligence processes by computer systems, particularly the ability to learn and adapt from experience. In the context of Internet art, these technologies enable artists to create works that can evolve or respond to user interactions, resulting in dynamic and interactive experiences that challenge traditional notions of authorship and creativity.
Ascii art: Ascii art is a graphic design technique that uses printable characters from the ASCII standard to create images and designs. This form of art emerged with early computer technology and became popular in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly on bulletin board systems and the early internet, as it allowed artists to express creativity without the need for advanced graphic software.
Augmented reality: Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that superimposes digital information—such as images, sounds, and other data—onto the real world, enhancing the user's perception of their environment. This immersive experience blurs the line between physical and virtual spaces, making it particularly significant in various art forms. AR is used in performance documentation to create interactive experiences, enriches new media art with layers of information, facilitates internet art by connecting virtual content to the real world, and transforms virtual reality by adding elements of interaction with physical surroundings.
Collaborative creation: Collaborative creation is the process where multiple individuals or groups work together to produce a collective piece of art or project. This approach emphasizes teamwork and interaction, often blurring the lines between individual authorship and collective contribution. It reflects the idea that art can be a communal experience, allowing for diverse perspectives and shared ownership in the final outcome.
Digital aesthetics: Digital aesthetics refers to the visual and sensory qualities of artworks created in or influenced by digital technology. This term encompasses the unique characteristics of digital art, such as pixelation, virtual environments, and interactive elements, which distinguish it from traditional art forms. It also considers how digital platforms shape artistic expression and audience engagement.
Digital art collections: Digital art collections are curated compilations of artworks that are created, stored, and distributed in digital formats. These collections can encompass a wide range of digital media, including photography, video art, 3D modeling, and interactive installations, allowing artists to reach broader audiences through online platforms.
Digital colonialism: Digital colonialism refers to the ways in which technology, particularly the internet and digital platforms, is used to assert control and dominance over less powerful nations and communities. It highlights how powerful countries and corporations exploit digital resources, cultural content, and personal data from marginalized groups, often reinforcing existing inequalities. This concept sheds light on the impact of technology on global power dynamics and cultural hegemony.
Digital divide: The digital divide refers to the gap between individuals and communities who have access to modern information and communication technologies, such as the internet and computers, and those who do not. This divide can lead to disparities in opportunities, education, and social participation, impacting how new media and internet art are created and experienced by different populations.
Generative Art: Generative art is an artistic practice that involves creating artwork through automated processes, often utilizing algorithms and computer code. This form of art allows for the generation of unique pieces that can change over time or respond to user interactions, showcasing the relationship between technology and creativity. By using mathematical or procedural rules, artists can create complex visual forms that can be unpredictable and evolve, often reflecting broader themes in contemporary art such as randomness and system dynamics.
Hacking and subversion: Hacking and subversion refer to the practices of disrupting or challenging systems, often in the context of digital environments. This can include altering, manipulating, or critiquing established norms and technologies, especially within the art community. Artists utilize these concepts to question authority, provoke thought, and inspire change by leveraging the internet as a medium for creative expression and activism.
Heath Bunting: Heath Bunting is a contemporary artist known for his pioneering work in internet art, utilizing digital platforms to explore themes of identity, representation, and community. His projects often engage with the fluidity of online spaces, reflecting on how digital interactions can shape personal narratives and social connections. Bunting's work exemplifies the innovative potential of the internet as a medium for artistic expression and critique.
Html: HTML, or HyperText Markup Language, is the standard language used to create and design documents on the World Wide Web. It provides the structure for web pages, allowing text, images, videos, and other content to be displayed and formatted correctly in browsers. HTML enables artists and creators to engage with audiences through internet art, giving them the tools to present their work in innovative ways.
Hypertext: Hypertext is a digital text system that allows for non-linear navigation between interconnected pieces of information through hyperlinks. It transforms the traditional way of reading and consuming text by enabling users to access related content instantly, making it a key feature of Internet art where artists often use hypertext to create interactive and immersive experiences.
Information overload: Information overload refers to the state of being overwhelmed by the amount of information available, making it difficult to process, understand, and make decisions. This phenomenon is particularly relevant in the digital age, where vast amounts of content are constantly generated and shared across various platforms, leading to confusion and a decline in critical thinking skills.
Interactivity: Interactivity refers to the active engagement of participants in an experience, where their actions influence outcomes or responses within that environment. This concept enhances the connection between the viewer and the artwork, allowing for a dynamic relationship where the audience is not just a passive observer but an active contributor. In various forms of contemporary art, this engagement can manifest through physical participation, digital interfaces, or immersive environments.
Javascript: JavaScript is a dynamic programming language that is widely used for creating interactive and engaging web content. It allows developers to implement complex features on web pages, such as animations, form validation, and real-time updates, making it essential for modern web applications and Internet art.
Jodi: Jodi is an influential net art duo formed by Joan Heemskerk and Dirk Paesmans in the mid-1990s, known for their innovative and often playful approach to creating digital art that challenges conventional aesthetics and narratives. Their work often critiques the limitations of technology and explores the relationship between art and the internet, particularly through the use of glitch techniques and interactive elements.
Natalie Bookchin: Natalie Bookchin is a contemporary artist and filmmaker known for her innovative use of digital media to explore themes of social engagement and collective storytelling. Her work often addresses the intersection of art and activism, particularly through the lens of the internet, where she employs various platforms to engage audiences in critical dialogues about societal issues.
Net art: Net art is a form of digital art that is created and distributed primarily through the internet. It encompasses a wide range of artistic practices, often utilizing web technologies to engage users in interactive or immersive experiences. Net art blurs the lines between traditional art forms and digital culture, often challenging conventional notions of authorship, distribution, and audience interaction.
Nfts and blockchain art: NFTs, or Non-Fungible Tokens, are unique digital assets verified using blockchain technology, which ensures their authenticity and ownership. This innovation has transformed the art world by allowing artists to tokenize their work, providing proof of ownership and enabling direct sales to collectors without intermediaries. The emergence of NFTs has sparked discussions around the value of digital art, ownership rights, and the implications of blockchain technology on traditional art markets.
Olia lialina: Olia Lialina is a prominent figure in the realm of Internet art, recognized for her pioneering work that blends technology and artistic expression. She is particularly known for her contributions to net art, which explores the unique characteristics of the internet as a medium for artistic creation and interaction. Through her innovative use of digital platforms, Lialina challenges traditional notions of art and authorship while engaging audiences in a dialogue about the implications of the digital age.
Online exhibitions: Online exhibitions are virtual showcases of artworks, artifacts, or cultural content that are made accessible to a global audience via the internet. These exhibitions allow institutions, artists, and curators to present collections and themes without the limitations of physical space, fostering greater accessibility and engagement in the art world.
Post-internet art: Post-internet art refers to a movement that emerged in the early 21st century, characterized by artists who engage with the internet's influence on culture, society, and artistic practice after the initial excitement surrounding the digital realm has faded. This art form examines how the internet reshapes our experiences, perceptions, and interactions, incorporating both online and offline elements. The movement often critiques the nature of digital consumption and the resulting impact on contemporary art.
Preservation challenges: Preservation challenges refer to the difficulties and obstacles faced in maintaining and conserving artworks, especially those created in ephemeral or digital formats. These challenges are particularly pronounced in the realm of Internet art, where artworks often rely on technology that evolves rapidly, rendering older formats obsolete. Issues such as software obsolescence, hardware dependence, and the transient nature of online platforms complicate efforts to ensure that these digital creations remain accessible and intact over time.
Rhizome: A rhizome is a conceptual model that represents non-hierarchical and interconnected networks of ideas, where each point can connect to multiple other points without a central organizing principle. This idea challenges traditional structures and emphasizes multiplicity, fluidity, and decentralized organization. The concept is crucial in understanding how knowledge and culture can spread in an interconnected and dynamic manner.
Surveillance capitalism: Surveillance capitalism refers to the commodification of personal data by major tech companies to predict and influence consumer behavior. This practice often involves extensive data collection through digital interactions, allowing companies to develop detailed profiles of individuals and target them with tailored advertisements. The implications of surveillance capitalism extend into new media and internet art, as artists critique the pervasive nature of data collection and its effects on privacy and autonomy.
Technological determinism: Technological determinism is the theory that technology is a primary driver of societal change and cultural development. It suggests that technological advancements shape human behavior and societal structures, determining the course of social evolution. This perspective can be particularly relevant when looking at how new forms of media and the internet have influenced artistic expression and cultural practices.
User-generated content: User-generated content (UGC) refers to any form of content, such as text, images, videos, and audio, that is created and shared by individuals, rather than by professional content creators or organizations. This democratization of content creation has transformed how art is produced and consumed, particularly in the digital age, allowing for a more diverse range of voices and perspectives to be expressed and shared online.
Virtual identity: Virtual identity refers to the persona or self that an individual presents in digital spaces, shaped by online interactions, profiles, and digital footprints. This identity can encompass various aspects, such as social media profiles, avatars in virtual environments, and online behavior, which collectively contribute to how one is perceived in the digital world. The construction of virtual identity is influenced by technology, social norms, and personal choices, allowing for both authentic expressions of self and curated representations.
Virtual reality: Virtual reality (VR) is an immersive digital environment that simulates physical presence in real or imagined worlds, allowing users to interact with the environment through specialized hardware. This technology creates a sense of being in a different place, which can enhance experiences in various fields, including art, education, and entertainment. It plays a significant role in performance documentation, new media art, internet art, and multimedia installations by creating unique ways for artists to engage their audiences.
Vuk Cosic: Vuk Cosic is a pioneering artist and theorist in the field of net art, known for his innovative use of digital technologies and exploration of the implications of the internet on culture and art. He emerged in the 1990s, contributing to the development of internet art by creating works that interrogate the relationships between technology, art, and society. His projects often reflect on the nature of digital communication and the ways in which it shapes our understanding of identity and creativity.
Web 1.0: Web 1.0 refers to the first stage of the World Wide Web's evolution, primarily characterized by static web pages and a read-only user experience. During this era, websites were largely informational, offering content without interactive elements or user-generated content, which defined the digital landscape of the late 1990s to early 2000s.
Web 2.0: Web 2.0 refers to the evolution of the internet from a static information repository to a dynamic and interactive platform where users can create, share, and collaborate on content. This shift has led to the rise of social media, user-generated content, and participatory platforms that allow for greater engagement and connectivity among users. Web 2.0 emphasizes community, collaboration, and user-driven innovation, fundamentally transforming how art is created, distributed, and experienced online.
Web art: Web art refers to a form of digital art specifically created for the internet, utilizing its unique capabilities and features. It embraces the interactive, collaborative, and dynamic nature of the web, allowing artists to engage with their audience in innovative ways. This form of art can take various shapes, including websites, online installations, and social media projects, highlighting the internet as both a medium and a platform for artistic expression.