Cyber Cafe

Cyber Cafe took 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 collaborated with artists Antonio Roberts and Lucy Cheesman over a series of workshops, experimenting with open-source platforms and old technologies. Together they designed an interactive exhibition reimagining the creative potential of the internet cafe of today.

With Antonio Roberts, the group explored digital relics from the early years of the internet. SoE-Cities was inspired by the playful and fleeting nature of GeoCities web archives. The Explorers embraced the creative tone and DIY style of these early websites, offering an alternative to the sense of permanence expressed in their current social media profiles.