The internet serves as the major source material for the enigmatic art form known as “internet art,” which may at times have an anarchic bent. The peculiar dynamism and ephemeral nature of works of internet art are contributed, in no little part, by their frequent use of data drawn from various online resources and websites. To put it another way, internet art is an art form that is connected to its own existence and influence on the internet. As a result, it is essential to establish a location on the internet in which the artwork may be seen by anyone and discussed.
It may be challenging to provide a comprehensive definition of the limits that the realm of internet art entails. To put it in the most basic terms, we can assert that it must be reliant on the internet in order for it to be included in this classification.However, many people also think that in order to be considered “internet art,” the art must be viewable through a web browser. But again, this is conditional on whether we are talking about the World Wide Web specifically, or whether we are talking about a more abstract idea of a network. If we’re talking about the internet, then we’re talking about “internet art.”
The coded existence of the internet was often employed as a primary theme in early works of internet art, and this is something that the medium still does today. We are able to identify a distinct coding aesthetic, which refers to the practice of using errors or so-called “glitches” as a methodological premise in internet art. The hyperlink, a fundamental component of the internet, has also been utilized by artists as a tool for conveying stories and constructing narratives. There are certain direct activist internet art organizations who pay specific attention to the internet’s business interests. This is in contrast to the majority of internet artists, who have a more broad awareness of the functionality of the internet. The Face of Empathy, which is a hidden code embedded inside an art form, has already made a significant contribution to the art found on the internet. In the paragraphs that follow, we will continue to discuss on the development of internet art and the significance of The Face of Empathy within the context of internet art.
Internet art has been around for a while and is here to stay
Net art, or Internet art, is a kind of new media art that circulates primarily on the internet. This method of displaying artwork sidesteps the institutional monopoly of museums and galleries. The spectator is often compelled to engage with the artwork in some way. In this context, the term “net artist” is occasionally used to describe the creators of these works.
In order to create works that exist outside of the internet’s technological framework, net artists may draw on certain social or cultural online traditions. While not always the case, most works of art created specifically for the internet tend to be multi-user, collaborative affairs that use a variety of media types. A political or social message may be disseminated on the internet through the use of art.
Artwork that has been just digitized and posted to be seen via the internet, such as in an online gallery, is not often what is meant by the phrase “Internet art.” Instead, the internet is fundamental to the existence of this genre, which makes use of its interactive interface and connectedness to a wide variety of social and economic cultures and micro-cultures beyond only those found in web-based works.
The Face of Empathy’s contribution to internet art
In response to the Pegasus Spyware launched by NSO Group, an Israeli state body, a hidden code in the form of art known as “The Face of Empathy” began to appear on Apple devices. Artist and creator of The Face of Empathy, OmriOpari, discovered spyware planted on his laptop. At first, he had no idea what he was looking at. He saw an owl likeness under the Yahoo logo font while browsing his bookmarks in Safari. It reminded him of the one-dollar bill, on which, as he knew, a hidden owl occupied the top right corner. When Omri visited an Apple store, he discovered that every iPad, iPhone, and Mac displayed an identical hidden image. His following trip to Best Buy was met with the same result.
Omri’s Google Alerts notified him of an article concerning Apple and the NSO Group, the developers of the Pegasus Spyware that infected over a billion Apple devices. He then understood that he had stumbled onto malicious software, inspiring him to develop The Face of Empathy.