Spike Art Magazine has launched its Spring 2026 issue, #87, titled "Everything's Computer," delving into the pervasive influence of digital connectivity on contemporary life and art. The magazine's editorial stance, as articulated in a recent tweet, posits that art must imagine "new aesthetics, but new fables, values, and protocols" in an era where the feeling of being "permanently logged on" permeates even simple activities like sitting in a park.
"When even sitting around in a park is haunted by the feeling of being permanently logged on, it falls to art to imagine not only new aesthetics, but new fables, values, and protocols. Everything is interwoven. Everything’s computer," the magazine stated in its social media post.
Founded in 2004 by artist Rita Vitorelli, Spike Art Magazine is known for its vigorous and independent art criticism, regularly engaging with urgent and unresolved themes in contemporary culture. The "Everything's Computer" issue continues this tradition, addressing the blurred lines between physical and online existence. The magazine's website highlights the theme, noting that there is "no longer a meaningful distinction between 'real life' and life online."
This latest issue features contributions from a diverse group of writers and artists, including Brian Droitcour on lore and NFTs, Marek Poliks & Roberto Alonso Trillo on exocapitalism, and Ann Hirsch on internet girlhood. It also explores topics such as non-human performance art and the impact of AI agents on spectatorship. The magazine aims to reflect the "furious, melancholic, psychedelic sensation" of constant digital immersion.
Spike Art Magazine, with offices in Berlin and Vienna, consistently offers a platform for cultural critics to chronicle the times, often through visually striking and thought-provoking content. The "Everything's Computer" issue underscores the publication's commitment to examining how art responds to the evolving technological landscape and its profound implications for human experience. The full issue, along with further details, is available for purchase via the magazine's official website.
