About the Net Art Repository

Preserving Early Net Art and Digital Culture

The Net Art Repository is dedicated to preserving and showcasing works from the early days of the internet. As the digital landscape rapidly evolves, many of the pioneering artworks of the 90s and early 2000s are at risk of being lost due to technological obsolescence, forgotten websites, and changing platforms. Our mission is to capture and document these vital pieces of digital history to ensure that they remain accessible for future generations.

Why Net Art Matters

Net art emerged in the 1990s as a response to the growing possibilities of the web. Artists experimented with hypertext, code, and interactive elements, creating works that were not just displayed online but were intrinsically linked to the internet itself. These early pieces were not static; they were fluid, living, and capable of evolving with the medium. By preserving them, we acknowledge the foundational role they played in shaping the digital art landscape we know today.

What We Do

The Net Art Repository collects, archives, and presents key works of early net art. We collaborate with artists, curators, and institutions to bring attention to net art and its role in digital culture. Our platform provides both an exhibition space and a resource for research, offering access to these works for scholars, curators, and anyone interested in the history of art and technology.

Our Commitment to Retro Web Compatibility

This website has been specifically developed to be compatible with mid-90s technology, such as Windows 95/98 and browsers like Netscape Navigator. As the internet in the 90s was built on different technical standards and design limitations, this website mirrors the functionality and experience of those early web days. To achieve this, we have intentionally maintained design elements and features that are compatible with the hardware and software available at the time.

Running on these older systems requires the site to be lightweight and simple, without modern features like advanced CSS or JavaScript that could slow down performance on legacy machines. We encourage users to experience this platform through the lens of early digital history, as it was intended to run on systems from that era.

Why HTTP and "Non-Secure" Warnings?

This website operates over HTTP rather than HTTPS, a decision made out of necessity to maintain compatibility with early web technologies. During the mid-90s, HTTPS encryption was not yet standard, and HTTP was the only protocol available for communication. As such, this site adheres to those historical protocols in order to run smoothly on the technology of the time.

Modern browsers may display a "Not Secure" warning in the address bar when accessing HTTP sites. While this warning is common for sites built today, it is important to note that it is a result of the technical limitations of early web standards. The "non-secure" label is irrelevant to the functioning of this website as it was not built with modern security features in mind. It is simply a necessity to ensure compatibility with older browsers and systems.

We hope this context clarifies the choices behind the design and functionality of this site. Our goal is to preserve the integrity and experience of early net art by maintaining compatibility with the systems and protocols that were in use when these works were originally created.