The magic ring is a collection of artists' websites linked together in a circular structure which is totally decentered and transparent. In the early days of the Web, this format was called a Webring but had, until recently, become obsolete. In the context of the research programs at certain Fine Art schools in France and abroad, we have decided to breathe new life into this format and rethink its interface in a radically different way. This page is the only visible trace of the magic ring. To navigate within this community one magic gestures is required: moving the mouse clockwise will display a map of the ring ( ↻ ).
In many cultures, the ring symbolizes links and the concept of community : a ring that binds two people together, the Borromean rings of different families and the five Olympic rings representing the five continents. The ring is a link and a constraint at the same time and through this controversial strength it is able to do both the best and the worst. The idea of community has been transmitted down through the history of the Internet by bearing this ambivalence with pharaonic and philanthropic projects on the one hand (the copyleft concept) and conspiracy on the other (the September 11 attacks). Today, the idea of community in the Internet is embodied by Web 2.0 social networking. This is neither a dream nor a nightmare but simply another way of doing business, a way that transforms personal data into commodities. Facebook, Twitter and others capitalize on the resources of their users without guaranteeing that they are able to preserve the knowledge they have, whilst maintaining the rights to keep a copy for future investments. On the contrary, the Magic Ring does not host anything. It remains invisible and leaves its fate in the hands of chance.
The Magic Ring
In many cultures, the ring symbolizes links and the concept of community : a ring that binds two people together, the Borromean rings of different families and the five Olympic rings representing the five continents. The ring is a link and a constraint at the same time and through this controversial strength it is able to do both the best and the worst. The idea of community has been transmitted down through the history of the Internet by bearing this ambivalence with pharaonic and philanthropic projects on the one hand (the copyleft concept) and conspiracy on the other (the September 11 attacks). Today, the idea of community in the Internet is embodied by Web 2.0 social networking. This is neither a dream nor a nightmare but simply another way of doing business, a way that transforms personal data into commodities. Facebook, Twitter and others capitalize on the resources of their users without guaranteeing that they are able to preserve the knowledge they have, whilst maintaining the rights to keep a copy for future investments. On the contrary, the Magic Ring does not host anything. It remains invisible and leaves its fate in the hands of chance.
The Magic Ring