Cyber Cafe takes inspiration from the first internet cafes that acted as a site for optimism and excitement at the early potential of the internet.
These spaces offered new possibilities for connection, collaboration and creative self expression.
Site Gallery’s young people’s collective the Society of Explorers, have collaborated with artists Antonio Roberts and Lucy Cheesman over a series of workshops, experimenting with open-source platforms and old technologies.
Together they have designed an interactive exhibition reimagining the creative potential of the internet cafe of today.
For the Cyber Cafe Closing Party, Lucy Cheesman and Antonio Roberts present a live rendition of Dial Up Dream. Manipulating and remixing audio and video samples created in collaboration with Site Gallery’s Society of Explorers, they will create an audiovisual landscape that evokes memories of the early internet and old technologies.
By utilising modern analogue modular video hardware produced by LZX Industries, Antonio Roberts will create live visuals that are reminiscent of both the lo-fi psychedelic screensavers from Windows 95/98 computers and the distorted glitched signals from analogue TVs.
Lucy Cheesman will use the open-source live coding language TidalCycles to programme hardware synths and scramble samples into a Myspace-era videogame soundtrack.
There will also be an immersive performance from special guest HarleyLikesMusic; channelling the raw energy of the Game Boy’s sound chip, Harley’s performances are characterised by hypnotic rhythms, infectious melodies and body-shaking basslines.
