Internet Artworks, Artists and Computer Programmers: Sharing the Creative Process

Abstract

Internet artwork no longer refers to the concept of a finalized object, but rather to a dynamic process, a collective, open and interactive device. Due to the increasing sophistication of tools, the design of an Internet artwork now requires hybrid skills. The necessary cooperation with computer specialists in order to create suitable programs thus changes the status of the artwork and its author. This paper presents an ethnographic case study of cooperation between a computer programmer and an artist. It examines the processes of shared design, negotiated authorship and artwork appropriation. From an analysis of the means of communication, various technical media and “intermediary tools,” the author focuses on role allocation, task sharing and artwork appropriation as the artwork is modified throughout the creative process.