Enabling a Future, or How to Survive FOREVER

This chapter first presents a brief elaboration of the conservation practice in relation to digital art. A specific aspect of a conservation practice, the attempt to approach as close as possible the authentic state of an artwork, is analyzed in relation to digital art through an exploration of different artworks that exemplify specific challenges to the notion of authenticity. Reflecting on the exhibition, it can be argued that traditional preservation approaches conducted by museums are often insufficient when applied to digital work and more flexible models and interdisciplinary collaboration is needed to tackle digital conservation. Throughout the years, conservation has been divided into two camps: those stressing the importance of material conditions of an artwork, and those emphasizing the value of preserving the conceptual part of the artwork, meaning the cultural significance of the work that most commonly resides in the conceptual intent of the artist.