Upcoming in Spring 2026, an exhibition and events curated by CSNI researcher Kendal Beynon, at The Photographers’ Gallery, 06 March – 07 June. Connection Established explores how new generations of artists are reclaiming the internet through DIY webcraft and zine-making, mapping the evolving history of online communities and inviting you to take part. Find out more at https://thephotographersgallery.org.uk/whats-on/connection-established-digital-folklore-and-web-craft.
Since the rise of the PC and the internet, there’s been an entire shift in the way we work, socialise, learn, date and entertain. The utopian ideals of the early internet, globalised access to knowledge and culture have splintered. With the rise of AI and an increased awareness of both the environmental impacts and omnipresent observation of everything we do, new generations of artists on the internet are returning to web craft and zine-making.
Using handmade and DIY techniques with web tools like Shrimp Zine and Downpour, artists are building communities at a small scale which are sometimes fandoms, often political, but always personal. Connection Established maps a history of online communities, inviting you to add your own to the wall and explore a selection of zines about internet culture and digital folklore.
More information to follow soon.
Image credit: Dingbat Day, a Sunday Site by whoislina (dingbatday.glitch.me).