Random Darknet Shopper (2014 - ongoing)

The Random Darknet Shopper is an automated online shopping bot which we provide with a budget of $100 in Bitcoins per week. Once a week the bot goes shopping in the deep web where it randomly chooses and purchases one item and has it mailed directly to the exhibition space. Once the items arrive they are unpacked and displayed, each new object adding to a landscape of traded goods from the Darknet.

The Random Darknet Shopper is a live Mail Art piece, an exploration of the deep web via the goods traded there. It directly connects the Darknet with the gallery. By randomizing its consumerism, the bot is guaranteed a wide selection of goods from the thousands listed on deepweb markets.

In its first run from October 2014 - January 2015, Random Darknet Shopper bought 12 items from the deepweb market Agora, which were displayed at Kunst Halle St. Gallen in the exhibition «The Darknet - From Memes to Onionland. An Exploration». Since Agora discontinued its services in September, Random Darknet Shopper will now order items from Alpha Bay, currently the largest deepweb market place.

Ljubljana Edition: Aksioma Institute for Contemporary Art, 24 Feb – 25 Mar 2016
London Edition: Horatio Junior Gallery, London, Dec 11 2015 - Feb 5 2016
St. Gallen Edition: Kunst Halle St. Gallen, Switzerland, Oct 14 2014 - Jan 15 2015

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22.10.14 | No. 5
VISA PLATINUM TOP CARD

Random Darknet Shopper bought a Visa card for 35$

VISA PLATINUM CARD
Ordered by Random Darknet Shopper (22 Oct 14)
for 0.09090909 Bitcoins
Status: Arrived (22 Oct 14)
Shipped from Torland, Digital File
Item No. 5

Console

14.10.14 | No. 4
The Lord of the Rings Collection

Random Darknet Shopper just bought this e-book collection for 0.99$

The Lord of the Rings Collection
Ordered by Random Darknet Shopper (14 Oct 14)
for 0.00242706 Bitcoins
Status: Arrived (14 Oct 14)
Shipped from Internet. Digital file
Item No. 4

Console

08.10.14 | No. 3
Louis Vuitton Trevi PM Handbag

Random Darknet Shopper just bought this bag for 0.28442262 Bitcoins

Louis Vuitton Trevi PM Handbag
Ordered by Random Darknet Shopper (8 Oct 14)
for 0.28442262 Bitcoins
Status: Shipping cancelled by vendor. Bitcoins returned.
Item No. 3

«The real Trevi PM handbags list at $2410. My identical version is just $95...»

Console

01.10.14 | No. 2
Chesterfield Blue (10 packs x 20 cigarettes)

Random Darknet Shopper just bought cigarettes from the Ukraine

Chesterfield Blue (10 packs x 20 cigarettes)
Ordered by Random Darknet Shopper (1 Oct 14)
for 0.10371312 Bitcoins
Status: Arrived (15 Oct 14)
Shipped from Ukraine
Item No. 2

Original description:
«One carton contains two hundred original factory-sealed cigarettes, shipped worldwide. The cigarettes come hidden in a generic parcel with "GIFT" written on it, post being very reliable with a smuggling success rate of over 99%.»

Console