This project was exhibited at Speicher XI A, Bremen, 2024
as part of the group exhibition "What will there be in the end"
short video trailer
While the internet evolved over time, significant changes have occurred, yet some experiences remain universal, albeit using different content. Reflecting on my own discovery of the internet at an early age, I realised that I spent a considerable amount of time online, communicating with friends or sometimes strangers virtually.
The nostalgia I felt made me think about the “good ‘ol times”, when surfing the web felt freer compared to today, but it also had an underlying dark taste to it. The unfiltered internet hosted many scary and disturbing images which could easily pop up in front of a child and shape their worldview forever. Many people are aware of the dark side of the internet and the bizarre things lurking behind another hyperlink or a pop-up on a shady website. Yet, terms such as Vaporwave and Y2K have become trendy and gained significant interest in recent years. For example, Google Trends data shows a significant increase in searches for “Vaporwave” and “Y2K” aesthetics over the past few years, indicating a revival of interest in early internet culture.
My personal experiences as an unsupervised child on the early 2000s internet were translated into diary entries, forming the basis of my project.
The project was realised as a VR experience, created using Unity and the Meta Quest 3 VR headset. It is a 25-minute journey touching on various themes such as gore, pornography, catfishing, talking to strangers, grooming, mental health issues, and more. The diary entries are recorded and paired with visuals to support and deepen the exploration of these topics.
The audience often reacted strongly to the storytelling and personal experiences, with visitors expressing shock or deep contemplation. The project successfully sparked numerous conversations among attendees, fulfilling the project’s aim to raise awareness and provoke thought and dialogue. In conclusion, this project sheds light on the early internet’s nature, offering a nostalgic yet critical lens through which you can view its impact on childhood and personal development, either individually or as a generation.
1# diary entry - 2girls1cup
When I was in 6th grade I remember when another child in my class wanted everyone to see one video. A video that I believe many people my age know about – “2 girls, 1cup” – the unofficial name of a pornographic scat movie where two women defecate into a cup and then seem to be consuming its content, taking turns while doing so. That kid in my class passed around their phone as the video played and was forcing the other children to watch it even if they didn’t want to.
No, the teachers did not know what was going on. This was around 2009 and this was how the video went viral Pre social media.
Some people like to kiss,
Some people like to hug,
Some people like to eat shit out of a cup
Skills I Used / What I did
Unity 3D | Meta Quest 3 VR | Storytelling | Audio & video editing | Design exhibition space