Surveillance Artwork Research - Maps and Networks

Surveillance Artwork is all about creating pieces which usually use technology with in them to offer a commentary on the use of Surveillance and the ideas behind it. It has been made by many different artist in many different ways offering up their viewpoints on the matter. I am going to focus on some pieces I have found to help inform me on what my Surveillance piece could be like:

Andy Warhol - Outer and Inner Space (1966)




Looking back in history it seems as though Andy Warhol was responsible for being one of the first major artist to bring the idea if Surveillance into his artwork in a very unique performance based piece. Above is the piece and even though it seems outdated now the idea behind it back then was so exciting and I still find it to be so. He has taken an actress and had her sit in one position while she is recorded by many different cameras and through the technology they had they have placed these recording in many different places around her so that it appears as it she is having a conversation with herself and she is also very aware that she is being watched. It draws your attention as a viewer to what technology can do and how surveillance is being used. I think this piece links really well with my idea because I also want to play with a live feed camera and monitor to create a weird distorted effect.


Stanza - Publicity (2004)

This is a installation on location which he has reproduced in many different locations as well. He creates these pieces which explore the relationship of the inside and outside world through surveillance. Here he has hacked into the cctv of this waterside restaurant and has then displayed these cctv images of the inside on the outside of the restaurant through projectors. As well as being a really interesting approach to this idea of surveillance I also find all the technology he has to use to make these pieces work really interesting too because he is randomly displaying live feeds through projections. I like how to make a point about cctv he has embraced it. I feel like this links well into my idea for an installation because I am playing with a live feed and I hope it will make the audience aware of the implications like this piece does by embracing it. Stanzas website has been very insightful to me too as all his artworks have this common link about urban society and surveillance/technology with in it.


Jakub Geltner - Nests (2011)

These images show a collection of location installations set up by Geltner which is a commentary on how ridiculously unprivate our lives now are. He has been working on setting up these pieces in many different places since 2011. He chooses many different and random locations, some more than other such as the rocks at the beach. There are such a large number of cameras that it is almost like a flock of bird which is why he has titled the collection nests. It showing you how cctv is very real and is expanding at a alarming rate. I just like how much of a visual impact they make. I really love these photos and I wish that I could witness the pieces first hand. I feel like it is a very simple yet effective method of getting the point across. It inspires me to think about how effective I can make my piece. Maybe keeping it simple and straight to the point would be much more effective to the viewer just like this piece.

Bruce Nauman - Live Taped Video Corridor (2008)

I then finished off my research by looking at this piece which links a lot more directly to my idea and the kind of set up I am going for. I have seen this piece before and it has always interested me because of the way it entices you in and plays with you curiosity as well as making a statement. Basically the live feed camera is set up high at the beginning of the corridor and looks down it but the monitor is at the end of this corridor so in order for you to be able to see yourself you have to walk down this very narrow corridor to the monitor and you can kind of see yourself approaching but by the time you get there you are in the distance. It almost made so that you only catch glimpses of yourself and are never able to fully see yourself. It also plays with this fascination we have as humans to see ourselves on video. I want to make my piece interactive like this also playing around with peoples curiosity but with a different set up and a stronger theme of cctv. I have been very influenced by this piece and still am.

This research has helped me understand the history behind Surveillance art and also has allowed me to see what people have already done so I can take what worked well and apply it to my idea and also create something unique hopefully.