Internet art came into being in the early 1990’s with the advent of the WWW. It opened up the possibility of new spaces which were not reliant on an arts institution, available to the public anytime and anywhere (internet access permitting). The net is a virtual public space; the virtual space allows exchange, collaboration, interaction, and can be transparent and flexible.
Wonderful North uses the internet to facilitate exchange between artists and users. During the road trip visitors to the site were encouraged to recommend people and places for the artists to visit and to comment on the artists’ daily uploaded content within the blog.
The 28 day road trip only allowed for a limited number of people and places to be visited. The restrictions of time and the potential problems that could occur by the artists creating a specific personal journey could be readdressed by the use of the internet, which has greater geographical reach than the artists could ever achieve as well as being a tool for information exchange. The user generated content of the Wonderful North site facilitates a greater diversity of opinion and experience of cultural activity in the north, as well as a place for unedited and open exchange.
The method of display in the final exhibition fits comfortably into a museum or gallery tradition, the user is presented with five virtual pavilions (or buildings), each containing a different type of exhibition which you can navigate your way through and stop to investigate objects more closely as and when you choose. The user selects a pavilion and fly’s inside. Once inside the user can zoom in and out of the space and look at the content in more detail by clicking for more information. The information is presented to the user in a new format isolating the object/drawing to present it next to chosen imagery or footage and written descriptions which reference traditional gallery interpretation boards.
Users are encouraged to go to the forum to discuss opinions, ideas and responses to the site and the artists’ exhibition pavilion.
Compare the experience of viewing the exhibition online to the experience of viewing an exhibition in a local gallery or public building. What do you think the Wonderful North gains from being an on-line exhibition? Consider the methods of display and the user experience.