Shared Knowledge:

The Resistant
Web:
Workshopon WebCommunication
Konrad Rennerwww.knoth-renner.com

Introduction

The Resistant Web: Workshop on Web Communication

Omnipresent digital forms today mix with artifacts of thepast, forming a constantly branching network. We havebecome part of a fleeting visual cloud, with no clear reference
points or connotations. Nevertheless, we accept digitalsurfaces as something ubiquitous, as a natural tool and daily
accompaniment in the communication of art and culture.
Against this background, the lecture deals with visualstrategies that critically and humorously question the relevanceof digital communication, with room for action beyond smooth
and unresisting surfaces and the question of which importantsocial role cultural institutions can play.
Konrad Renner

2

Konrad Renner works on the intersection of digital culture
and graphic design. Since 2011, he collaborates withChristoph Knoth in Berlin, Leipzig and the web. Based ona deep appreciation for technology and its visual echo,
Konrad Renner’s portfolio includes digital projects for artists
like Simon Denny and !Mediengruppe Bitnik, publishers like
Sternberg Press and Spector Books and cultural institutions
like Kunsthalle Zürich and the German pavilion at the Veniceart biennial in 2015. Together with Christoph Knoth, he is aprofessor at the art university in Hamburg where they teacha class on digital graphic design.

In the section “Shared Knowledge” EMAP publishes results frominternal conferences and workshops to share them with othercultural organisations and artists. The aim is to exchange andgain knowledge within the sector of media art.
Do you want to share knowledge?
Contact us: pr@emare.eu

The Resistant Web: Workshop on Web Communication

Examples and Formatsof Web Communication

3

1.

Website for Werkleitz Festival 2015 .move On
moveon.werkleitz.de•user left a trace on the website by drawing globes after every klick•

cookie saved the globes for the next visit•

the aspect resulted the website being used frequently

2.

Website for Werkleitz Festival 2019 Modell und Ruine[model and ruin]

The Resistant Web: Workshop on Web Communication

modell-und-ruine.werkleitz.de4•

theme of the festival connected to the website
by little graphics and background•e.g. Ivy as a connection to ruins growing while scrolling3.

Website for Crypto Rave for !Mediengruppe Bitnik and HEK Basel
0b673cce.xyz•mining cryptocurrency for tickets for the event•

this System was hacked for purchasing tickets
which were sold on the dark net

4.

Website for Sternberg Press

The Resistant Web: Workshop on Web Communicationwww.sternberg-press.com

5•

example for a “functional Website”> every book has it’s individually coloured background5.

Website for Manchester International Festival„The virtual factory“ about virtual artist La Turabo Avedon
virtual-factory.co.uk•

using lots of elements and colours•

website functioned as a stage for game play•users entered the art piece online sometimes
without even noticing that it´s an art piece

The Resistant Web: Workshop on Web Communication

66.

Artist catalogue<script>alert(“!Mediengruppe Bitnik”);</script>
for german media artists !Mediengruppe Bitnik•

book is connected to the pages and outward appearanceof the internet•

Christoph and Konrad often Masonry, a JavaScript grid layout
with which the glitches that sometimes happen are translated
into the bookmasonry.desandro.com•title of the book is written as a real JavaScript•

a window pops up showing the name of the artist group•it is an example of a kind of soft hacking of a system

The Resistant Web: Workshop on Web Communication

Questions and Issuesof Web Communication

7

Question of tracking numbers of visitors of Websites:
Since the change of data security in 2019 it is notpossible anymore to track visitors of websites properly,
private browsing also makes it difficult.

Different approach on using websites:
beakerbrowser.com•websites are stored in the browser of the user,
everybody can host a side which can´t be destroyed, deleted, etc.

Question of problems about broken Websites
and how to preserve them•websites which store older versions of the sites:
conifer.rhizome.org
archive.org•

good Screencasts can be done•

there is no proper way to preserve these sites

Question on headless CMS Systems:•

gives user the possibility to change only the content of websites
without changing the visual appearance•

content in the backend is organised as a folder structure

Issues with bigger systems like Typo3 and Drupal
is that they are more likely to be hacked

The Resistant Web: Workshop on Web Communication

Kirby CMS is a real recommendation
getkirby.com

8•

approach for lightweight websites•

not much hacking or maintanance difficulties

European Media Art Platform
The European Media Art Platform (EMAP),
initiated by werkleitz and co-funded by Creative
Europe since 2018, is a consortium of leading
European media art organisations specialised inDigital and Media Art, Bio Art and Robotic Art.
emare.eu
info@emare.eu

Contact:
Werkleitz Center for Media Art
Peter Zorn
Schleifweg 6D-06114 Halle (Saale) Germany+49 (0)345 682460
pz@werkleitz.de