Preservation Strategies for an Internet-based Artwork Yesterday Today and Tomorrow

This paper investigates possible preservation strategies for an internet-based artwork and assesses the strategies that best capture the authenticity of the work for future iterations. Two different preservation strategies are applied for the internet-based artwork TraceNoizer.org from 2001. A third one, a Linux Live CD, was carried out by one of the artists. They are compared and evaluated from the perspective of the long-term preservation of the work’s most significant properties. Compared to software-based artworks, the characteristics of internet-based artworks shift the focus of the preservation measures from the stabilization of the software to reduction of server maintenance, protection of server and artwork from internet threats and reduction of external dependencies. This paper suggests solutions how to handle these challenges and discusses its benefits and disadvantages for long-term preservation.