netartdothu (beta)

Internet art and Internet culture in Hungary in the 1990s and 2000s. A research project by Flóra Barkóczi

Anikó Szövényi: Homepage, 1997-2000

Szövényi Anikó’s website, developed since 1997, is an ongoing, evolving digital artwork that embraces the medium’s inherent unfinishedness. The site intertwines the life story of “Dam,” a metaphorical virtual construction worker, with interactive elements that require the user to explore the page by touching various small areas on the screen to uncover links. This non-linear navigation mirrors the fragmented nature of Dam’s life and reflects a deeper exploration of identity and labor. The site blurs the boundaries between technology, art, and daily life, using subtle references to computer functions, like “undo” and “frame,” to create a layered, reflective experience. Szövényi’s incorporation of different “life modes” within the site, including a contrast between heroic and more relaxed lifestyles, invites users to reconsider traditional narratives of work and leisure. The site offers a multifaceted commentary on modern existence and the expected potential of digital spaces in the 90s.