"WEB WORK: A HISTORY OF INTERNET ART" by Rachel Greene writes about the beginning and evolution of net.art, a unique digital art movement that came about from an unexpected software error in 1995. The term itself was discovered by Vuk Ćosić, a Slovenian artist when he noticed the phrase "net.art" amid the jumbled text of a corrupted email. This discovery started a revolution in how art could be created and shared online, setting the stage for a global community of digital artists.
The article details how net.art thrived on the early internet’s capability to connect artists beyond geographical and cultural boundaries. It created an interactive community where artists, thinkers, and enthusiasts could easily exchange ideas and collaborate on projects. This movement was particularly vibrant in post-Communist Eastern Europe, where artists leveraged newfound freedoms and the expanding reach of the internet to challenge traditional art scenes and institutions.
Key online platforms such as Jodi.org, Rhizome, and Nettime played important roles in this artistic revolution. These sites were not just galleries or publishers but were communities where anyone could participate in the ongoing conversation about art and technology. Greene highlights how these interactions were essential in shaping the collaborative and inclusive nature of net.art.
Overall, this reading shows how a simple glitch created the net.art movement. Highlighting platforms like Jodi.org, Greene shows how these sites became more than just places to display art. They were communities where artists and creatives worldwide could collaborate, communicate, and share their digital art. This article illustrates the power of community and technology in transforming art, making it accessible for everyone involved.
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