[Originally posted by Marc Garret on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 on NetBehaviour for networked distributed creativity]

Distant: http://www.furtherfield.org/mgarrett/distant/

Statement about why I am Making Net Art Once More:

I have been going through some changes regarding what type of personal, individual artwork that I wish to explore these days. Even though I am involved in various high-tech projects which are mainly collaborations, that are related to larger projects. I wish to return to making Net Art, reconnect to what has always been my favourite form of creativity and expression.

The reasons that I have decided to do this is, because I feel that it is time for me to re-explore what Net Art can really be now, as part of my varied practice. Times have changed, Net Art is dead as far as many others have been concerned, who originally made useful careers in writing about it and becoming 'heroic' artists from it. I intend to rebuild my own practice on an Art that was killed by its own culture. Those who loved it also decided to kill it even though other Net Artists around at that time were still making it, less considered in regard to the repercussions of what it meant to them and culture as a whole. For me, history is really not enough to define a creative culture as magnificent and dynamic as Net Art. It may be fine for those who were represented at that time, but surely there are even moments of doubt, a lingering spectre that says that it all went wrong. I feel that those few who were selected to be part of the (ironic) 'Heroic Period', have limited their own expansion. I know that many who have made Net Art in the past do not wish to be left behind, lost in the history books, as ghosts and may find this interesting themselves, as well as a budding contemporary generation of new Net Artists.

Rather than be part of a past mythology, I wish to be part of current reality. I am of course very aware of the contemporary technologies that control the Internet via corporate means, and how the rabid thirst of those who wish to be technologically determined, by this mannerist behaviour, are more interested in being led by others who are not interested in Art, and rather are more interested in being in positions of power over Media Art culture, via creative industry imposed protocols. To me, on the whole it says more about spectacle and how money is dictating people's intentions and causing diversions from seeing what is of value culturally. As far as I am concerned, it is more important to make Art.

Perhaps Net Art was destined to die, may be it had to die so that others could explore their own perceptions, reasons and creative voices without the pressure of having to conform to dictates that proposed ideas which in reality meant nothing to many Net Artists out there, other than to those who instigated such power-related gestures in the first place.

So, even though I am not expecting any great come back of a new Net Art consciousness from my own future ventures in reclaiming a practice that I believe was killed before its time, mistakenly. I am asking those who had decided to moved away from making Net Art (some of course moved on naturally) to respect my decision in embarking in something that was and is still an expression that I feel offers the world, contemporary experiences and ideas, that are still unique which can be given a second chance by actively and consciously engaging in the now.

For me, because there is no longer the hype about a new Internet and because it is a time of trouble in respect of economy depressions around the world, as well as many people only exploring technology for the sake of it, and because we need to be more ecological in our practices. We also need to come to terms in re-evaluating why we are doing what we do now, and how can we reclaim our creative histories and voices in a way that has more meaning, rather than through processes of mechanistic and personality driven motives alone. I want to build something that does not just reflect me being a slave to technology, corporate control and traditional Art world agendas. The Art will have its own voice on its own terms

The latest work 'Distant' is not trying to be clever via the technology, it is Art. An object, a contemporary piece that is well aware that it is no longer in fashion. Therefore, it is authentic.

marc garrett

Other Related News: On the 29th of this month, Ruth Catlow and myself are going on an artists residency at Banff, Canada. Through the whole of the month during March, we will both be collaborating to make new Net Art together. It will include open source and it will involve much coding. As we explore the possibilities of using contemporary resources that can be used for our Net Art practice, we will set up a portal or blog that displays our research as it happens. As well as the Art that we both create.

We are, of course interested to hear from those who are also re-engaging in the making of Net Art, using free software, free media, open source materials as well as their own ideas about it. It is an exciting time for us, what is there to lose but gaining the pleasure of doing what we really want to do:-)