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Surveillance 1-4
Solo show, Tent Gallery, March 2020
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In Surveillance 1-4, four short films, lined up next to each other, represent different types of boundaries we cross throughout the day. The films remind us of some of the limitations in our behaviour within our environment, exploring where does private space starts and public ends. Shot as surveillance footage and screened on TVs like in a CCTV room, this work highlights that while we cross social or political boundaries around us, someone else might inconspicuously be doing so to us. Each camera presents one characteristic level or perspective of surveillance. Street view surveillance was conceived as a collaboration with my neighbours who agreed to be part of this work, that is, their house and windows – it is the most obvious boundary we brake almost every day. Watching into someone’s living or dining room from a street-level can satisfy our curiosity, although it is deemed to be socially unacceptable. The camera that is following streets of Edinburgh is indirectly capturing footage of homeless people in their typical street abode. While looking into other people's homes is considered a serious breach of privacy, we seem to not be bothered by looking (staring) and stepping on homeless people in their proximity – the democratic nature of streets is allowing us to subdue some of the common interpersonal rules. The third perspective is considering a breach of public space that doubles as a private, and is inspired by a real break-in(s) to ground floor ASN studio and Tent gallery in Evolution House. The house where our studio is based is a good example of a public University space that is expected to be used by the local community in a certain way. It is a space for students to study, work, develop projects, but socialise as well. A blurred spatial boundary and ambiguous credentials of the space were highlighted by the intruder and his actions, shining a different light on the space that we once considered safe. In the last video, the depicted boundary becomes global, moves from urban settings, and explores the political border between England and Scotland. As with many country borders, specific and less specific landscape elements will constitute a boundary. This usually entails a river, road, mountain range, but it can involve a lake, plain agricultural field, or someone’s backyard. This camera is showcasing how inconspicuous political borders can be and how easy one can cross the border, bearing in mind that current political times allow that. It also explores a nonchalant nature of the explored border and how many don’t see it as a border, nor did they ever experience border crossings and possible emotions that might occur during that action.

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