OK. Midlife™ Issue #2, GO. This one’s in Steenkolenengels. Not because I’ve gone global overnight, but because I interviewed French legend Christophe Martin, founder of the iconic platform, Computerlove (CPLUV for insiders).
The theme? L’amour. For the web, for weirdness, for lekker computeren.
Enjoy,
Ronny
🎤 Remember… Computerlove
Computerlove (RIP) was a pioneering platform for visual creativity and collaborative design. The site featured portfolios, curated content, wild experiments, and international collaboration.
“At that time, the digital art world was very small on the internet; you had to be a bit crazy to participate in all of this.”
1. To start, what was your biggest 'claim to fame' as a digital artist when you were coming up?
Christophe: I was introduced to images and design because my father owned a pre-press business that produced books and magazines. I grew up with the first gaming consoles and personal computers. I started creating art and design in my early teens, then studied applied arts and immediately began working as a freelancer in the cultural sector.
I'm quite proud of what we accomplished with Computerlove, which generated millions of page views per month. The project's story is remarkable because we had no money or investors. Team members came from different countries and continents, with various professions and passions. The team was formed through online forums. At that time, the digital art world was very small on the internet; you had to be a bit crazy to participate. This project lasted about ten years with different phases and teams, always remaining a side project, even though brands like Adobe, Microsoft, and Apple were our advertisers. If I had to cite one notable fact, it would be that one apparent fan tattooed the Computerlove logo on their arm.
2. What did you do after that?
Christophe: I created many digital artworks before Computerlove, during my studies, and just after. Back then, software like Flash or Director allowed you to create scripted animations that could be distributed on the very slow internet of the time, which was incredible! I then worked in startups, consulting firms, and advertising agencies, where I created artistic installations and films for major international brands. Beyond that, I conducted numerous experiments related to repurposed imaging technologies: satellite photography, hacked surveillance camera images, onboard cameras, and later generative art and AI.
3. What’s your take on today’s internet?
Christophe: Today, the internet is very different, primarily because there are many more people, individual universes, and services that were previously inaccessible, but also much more automation and algorithms. Web design has become much more standardized overall, "IKEA-ized" to optimize performance.
4. Who’s doing exciting stuff now?
Christophe: Probably some of the most innovative artists by nature aren't human, they're entities like Botto or Keke Terminal, autonomous agents that design, select, and publish works independently. Some of these works have been sold at the auction house Christie's for thousands of euros.
5. Are you hopeful about the future of tech?
Christophe: Yes, because through technology, one person will have the power of 100 people, and not for the same reason.
6. Any advice for creatives today?
Christophe: A good portion of content today is mere distraction. Don't follow trends; be as singular as possible in your way of thinking, designing, creating, and persevering. In a few years, a large part of digital content creation will be largely automated and multiplied tenfold; one of the challenges is to stand out from the crowd!
🔗 Linkdump
Show some LOVE to these French creative gems:
123Klan (still going strong!)
🖼️ <IMG />
Inspired by Christophe’s thoughts on AI-generated art, I found Serifa. And I LOVE the weirdness and aesthetic. Yes, it’s AI. But it’s… tasteful (A)I guess?
🎧 Music
Throwback moment: I used to blast Beastie Boys at the Grafisch Lyceum while learning to design and code. Now I found a modern-day equivalent: Joey Valence & Brae. Same energy, modern twist. Highly recommended when in the creative zone.
🎶 Should I keep sharing music in these issues?
🥵 MoodSwing®
Still NOT entirely IN LOVE with the current internet.
Sure, turning yourself into a Studio Ghibli character with one prompt is fun. But does it solve anything for creatives?
People say 80% of creative production will disappear and that everything will become "strategy". I don’t buy it.
If anything, strategy will be easier to automate than creativity.
So being weird, personal, or just stubborn might be your best bet.
But the truth is… I’m getting older.
Worried about real-world problems.
Maybe the future of digital is a young (wo)man's game?
What do you think? What is our place in digital as Seniors?
🖋️ fffoundry
Lift Type is a French digital type foundry founded in 2014 by Romain Oudin and based in Montpellier.
🧠 Worldwide Wisdom
Have a great second easter day. Enjoy the sun and being around loved ones.
Take care.
— R