The Internet is a globalized system of computers and networks, enabling users to communicate and share information regardless of their geographical location or distance from one another. As a communication tool, the Internet has transformed the relationship between art and its audience. Furthermore, as a medium for artistic creation, the Internet offers even more functionalities.
The Internet was conceived in the 1960s, initially as a secure network to connect military computers across the United States. Over the next two decades, as more locations were connected, the Internet began to be used for non-military communication. In 1989, British scientist Tim Berners-Lee invented the "World Wide Web," a service built upon the existing Internet, allowing any connected computer user to access documents via hypertext links on their screens. This network rapidly accelerated the adoption of the Internet, transforming it into a global platform for information retrieval and sharing, from academic research to online shopping and social networking. Culturally, the Internet has fostered a sense of "global village," a concept first proposed by Canadian thinker Marshall McLuhan in 1962, well before the advent of the World Wide Web itself.
As artist Robert Adrian pointed out, real-time global connectivity "challenges the notion of art as a more or less independent, product-making activity." Before the Internet, art creation was almost strictly independent (at least compared to a computer user in front of a screen). The simultaneous development of digital technology means that highly complex artworks can potentially be disseminated to millions in online communities, rather than being confined to limited gallery spaces, publications, or virtual media. However, artists working on the Internet face a challenge: without the validation of gallery exhibitions or critical reviews, the nature of these artworks—whether commercial products or personal portfolios—is often not easily distinguished from other online content. Furthermore, internet users often expect content to be free (website revenue often comes from advertising). Therefore, artists creating Internet art often have to seek funding from other sources. Online art has also proven to be more ephemeral than traditional media because, if a website is to operate long-term, it requires continuous maintenance and updates.
Despite these challenges, the Internet has brought new energy to art from the perspective of a globalized society and political discourse. It has redefined the concept of "the world," shifting from segmented maps to diverse and constantly changing contexts. This transformation is evident in works like Tobias Cornish's Seven Layers of the World (2003), an Internet-based creation. Such data-driven works are also imbued with aesthetic qualities. Other artists use the Internet to enhance the interactive elements of their work; for instance, Claude Closky's project Links presented an encyclopedic list of celebrity names, where clicking on any name led to that person's commercial website. In the early 21st century, it became common for artists and art students to share and critique works via the Internet.
