theoretical

Theoretical research

Identities and Bodily Presence in Online, Networked Performance Art

This paper discusses the internet as a performance space with a main focus on the performer’s bodily presence online and the identities constructed as a means of performative practice. This can be in staged online performances in chat rooms and other social media or by the use of online games as tools for performative art practice. Of special interest is the connection between synthetic digital space (online) and the physicality and bodily presence of the performer and participator(s) involved, where performances and actions taking place in physical places connecting real bodies to the online network is in focus. This includes a study of the online performer as post human with the online performance as a post human event or action. Here the internet is as an expanding element that connects the performer’s body with other spaces and with technology. This includes aspects of both bodily presence – to perform the body online as well as a play with fluid identities, which is exemplified in gender performativity in online performances with the changeable body and identity constructions as prime examples.


This research-paper wil be presented at the Remote Encounters Conference in Cardiff, Wales on April 11. 2013.

ATRiuM, Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries, University of Glamorgan.



Keeping Ephemerality Alive - Preserving the Dynamic Materiality of Net Art (MA Thesis)

This thesis is a thorough analysis and discussion of how the dynamic materiality of net art is a challenge to the traditional static preservation approaches, which are still present in the art museums today. The thesis analyses and discusses different theoretical views and cases of net art preservation, with a goal to find the best strategy to preserve these dynamic net artworks. Net arts dynamic materiality provides some practical problems in preservation, where it is necessary to look at the artworks variability in the process. It is also important to consider whether it is a part of the net artworks strategy to be preserved, or if it is supposed to dissolve and fade away on the internet as a natural part of the works ephemerality.


The thesis concludes by suggesting a preservation plan in five steps for dynamic net art, with special focus on interviewing the artist in a similar way to the Variable Media Network, a thorough analysis of the artwork with a preservation view and a focus on the art works interactivity and dynamic materiality. Read full summary here



Still from online-performance project, experiment with online-streaming, 2012

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