Life Needs Internet 2010–2025

Life Needs Internet 2010-2025 is shown in the DocLab Exhibition.

How do people around the globe interact with the internet on a daily basis? In what ways does it influence their lives—and how do they feel about that? For 15 years, Jeroen van Loon has been collecting handwritten letters on this subject. He now has over 1,400 letters from people of all ages, from many different cultures and from a wide range of occupations and backgrounds.

This unique archive of stories and personal experiences in many languages is now the centerpiece of a spatial and physical installation—where the letters are accompanied by video portraits of the writers, and visitors can reflect on the internet’s role in their daily lives. Rather than chronologically, the hundreds of letters are presented in an associative way. The installation also incorporates a writing desk where visitors are invited to recount their own experiences.

This is the first time this long-term project is being presented on such a large scale. It’s central question is this: Do we need the internet in our lives?

Recipient of the Film Fund DocLab Interactive Grant 2025