How The Internet Changed My Life

How The Internet Changed My Life is a documentary exhibition exploring the influence of the internet on six individual lives. In this exhibition, viewers encounter the elusive entity of The Internet through the personal stories of each participant. Each of the six individuals is featured in a CGI-composited portrait, exploring their story through an interaction with a figure that personifies their version of The Internet. These portraits are then matched with one of the following: a VR world, an AR face filter, or a retro website.

This project started in 2018 by interviewing various individuals about their relationship with the net. Six individuals' stories were selected, their portraits were acted out and taken, and then work began on the CGI-composites, VR worlds, AR face filter, and retro website. Ruggiero closely collaborated with The Glad Scientist (Daniel Sabio) and Dylan Banks for the VR worlds and retro website. The Glad Scientist did development and helped direct, while Dylan Banks crafted the music. This project would not be the same without their contributions.

The exhibition was completed in 2021 and showcased at Art Basel at HeK Basel in Switzerland (2021), Kunsthalle Düsseldorf in Germany (2021), and as a solo show at 11 Newel Gallery in Brooklyn, NY, during NFT NYC (2022). Editioned NFTs were dropped on Opensea for the first time during the opening of the show at 11 Newel.

Photography + CGI Composite Portraits

How The Internet Changed My Life, portrait of Mike Diva, work station with wave and large 3D figure entering bedroom

How The Internet Changed My Life, Mika Diva
Nicole Ruggiero, 2021, Edition of 10/10, Available on Opensea
Created with a Canon 5D Mark III camera, Adobe Photoshop, Daz 3D, Cinema 4D, and Octane Render

How The Internet Changed My Life, portrait of Steffen who is hanging out with a 3D figure in his kitchen listening to music on his iphone

How The Internet Changed My Life, Steffen Yoshiki
Nicole Ruggiero, 2021, Edition of 10/10, Available on Opensea
Created with a Canon 5D Mark III camera, Adobe Photoshop, Daz 3D, Cinema 4D, and Octane Render

How The Internet Changed My Life, portrait of Molly Soda, pink bedroom with teddy bear and 3D figure on phone

How The Internet Changed My Life, Molly Soda
Nicole Ruggiero, 2021, Edition of 10/10, Sold out on Opensea
Created with a Canon 5D Mark III camera, Adobe Photoshop, Daz 3D, Cinema 4D, and Octane Render

How The Internet Changed My Life, portrait of Lindsay, sensually posing on bed looking at 3D figure with many heads surrounding her

How The Internet Changed My Life, Lindsay Dye
Nicole Ruggiero, 2021, Edition of 10/10, Available on Opensea
Created with a Canon 5D Mark III camera, Adobe Photoshop, Daz 3D, Cinema 4D, and Octane Render

How The Internet Changed My Life, portrait of Toshi who is reflected in a mirror with a 3D figure on the opposite side

How The Internet Changed My Life, Toshi Salvino
Nicole Ruggiero, 2021, Edition of 10/10, Available on Opensea
Created with a Canon 5D Mark III camera, Adobe Photoshop, Daz 3D, Cinema 4D, and Octane Render

How The Internet Changed My Life, portrait of Fran who is chatting with 3D figures who are consuming and exchanging memes in bedroom with colorful lights

How The Internet Changed My Life, Franziska Von Guten
Nicole Ruggiero, 2021, Edition of 10/10, Available on Opensea
Created with a Canon 5D Mark III camera, Adobe Photoshop, Daz 3D, Cinema 4D, and Octane Render

VR Worlds

How The Internet Changed My Life, VR World, In Da Club
Paired with Steffen Yoshiki's Portrait
Nicole Ruggiero, Daniel Sabio, Dylan Banks, 2021, Edition of 10/10, Available on Opensea
Created as a VR mini-game with Unreal Engine 4

How The Internet Changed My Life, VR World, Wave Of Virality
Paired with Mike Diva's Portrait
Nicole Ruggiero, Daniel Sabio, Dylan Banks, 2021, Edition of 10/10, Available on Opensea
Created as a VR mini-game with Unreal Engine 4

How The Internet Changed My Life, VR World, Deep Fry
Paired with Franziska Von Guten's Portrait
Nicole Ruggiero, Daniel Sabio, Dylan Banks, 2021, Edition of 10/10, Available on Opensea
Created as a VR mini-game with Unreal Engine 4

How The Internet Changed My Life, VR World, Cake Sitting
Paired with Lindsay Dye's Portrait
Nicole Ruggiero, Daniel Sabio, Dylan Banks, Sam Clover, 2021, Edition of 10/10, Available on Opensea
Created as a VR mini-game with Unreal Engine 4

AR Filter & Web 1.0 Website

How The Internet Changed My Life, HTICML AR Filter
Paired with Toshi Salvino's Portrait
Nicole Ruggiero, Teresa Fogolari, Toshi Salvino, 2021, Available on Instagram
Created with Spark AR

How The Internet Changed My Life retro Web 1.0 website with dollz and guestbook

How The Internet Changed My Life, Web 1.0 Website, Netlyfe
Paired with Molly Soda's portrait
Nicole Ruggiero, Daniel Sabio, Molly Soda, 2021, Access Website Here
Created with Neocities