“Documenting the Ephemeral: Strategies for Preserving Early Internet Art” presented by Gao, Wang and Zhang
Symposium:
Session Title:
- Summit on New Media Art Archiving (full papers)
Presentation Title:
- Documenting the Ephemeral: Strategies for Preserving Early Internet Art
Presentation Subtheme:
- Fourth Summit on New Media Art Archiving
Presenter(s):
Venue(s):
Abstract:
The Internet has become one of the primary mediums for contemporary art, yet early Internet-based artworks from the 1990s and early 2000s pose major preservation challenges. Many of these works were inherently ephemeral, designed to exist temporarily or change over time. Additionally, they were created using early web technologies that are now obsolete or incompatible with modern browsers and systems. This paper examines strategies and case studies to preserve early Internet art in a way that maintains its essential experiential and conceptual characteristics. It discusses emulation techniques that recreate obsolete software and hardware environments. It also investigates the migration approaches that update the technical underpinnings of work to function on contemporary systems. Documentation methods such as videos, screenshots, and code archives are also considered. The paper analyzes the attempts by organizations like the Rhizome ArtBase, the Variable Media Network, and individual artists to preserve seminal early Internet artworks like Olia Lialina’s My Boyfriend Came Back from the War (1996) and MTAA’s 1 Year Performance (1996-1997). It assesses successes, failures, and ongoing challenges. Finally, the paper proposes an integrated approach that combines emulation, migration, and documentation strategies. It argues that a multipronged preservation methodology is essential for retaining early Internet works’ technical functionality and conceptual essence. The paper aims to provide strategies and principles for archiving a seminal but endangered area of new media art.
