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HUMAN_DRONE_MARKERS (2023)
Human_Drone_Markers seeks to take a metaphorical approach to simulate the experience of monitoring and searching. The project utilises real data to explore the emotional experiences of migratory movements and the implications of mass surveillance.
The project prompts political reflection on the implications of mass surveillance. Simultaneously, it targets audiences who takes interest in the critical issue of humanitarian concerns.
> Inspiration & Research
The increasing use of drones to enhance coastal surveillance operations has served as the starting point for this project. It sparked my interest on the deployment of drones on high ground to monitor migratory movements.
Upon researching how these devices are used to patrol borders, I discovered the ‘Missing Migrants Project’, hosting the only existing global database on migrant deaths. I realised that despite the ongoing crisis of unsafe migration worldwide, this issue appears to be hidden and overlooked in our collective awareness.
> Methodology & Process
Drawing inspiration from the concept of glass floors, I used an image of a sky to allow participants to experience the feeling of being suspended in mid-air while observing the landscape below. Intrigued by the dynamics of ‘concealing’ and ‘unveiling,’ and the filtering of information, I introduced a blurred, pixelated cloud to further replicate the effect of concealing information.
This serves to comment on algorithms and their constant arbitration of what is shown and what remains hidden. By intentionally creating a ‘filter’, the interface alludes to the habitual norm of what we ‘don’t want to see’ or typically choose to ignore on television news.
To incorporate the state of mass surveillance and privacy invasion. I introduced additional object detection, further portraying security concerns and acts as an 'interference' that prevents participants from searching the correct locations.
In doing so, I created a dynamic interplay of time constraints and responsibilities.
> How it works
To initiate the search of missing migrants and thereby reveal the concealed data, participants will be recognised as ‘drones’. Participants will be invited to walk over the canvas to mediate this interaction.
Subsequently, they will engage in the task of actively searching for coordinate points and the number of missing or deceased migrants.
During this process, an SOS sound signal is generated, serving as a guide that gradually increases in volume as participants get closer to a specific coordinate.The goal here is to demonstrate spatial awareness – the understanding of one’s surroundings, as well as auditory navigation – the ability to navigate by relying on auditory cues and sound direction
While participants embody the role of ‘drones’ in a quest to locate coordinate points, this activity of border patrol simultaneously portrays how illegal migrants live in constant fear and uncertainty of being caught. It transforms into a poignant reminder of the journey migrants undertake in search of a better environment. The SOS signal further conveys the heightened senses and awareness migrants develop during their journeys. Interestingly, the signal can be interpreted in two ways – a cry for help, or a sense of danger.
Once a coordinate is successfully detected, the pixelated filter is deactivated – revealing the hidden data that lies underneath. This data includes video footage of migrants crossing borders, along with mapped coordinates of missing migrants.
My intention was to transform participants into ‘location markers’ to symbolise the connection between the participant and the missing or deceased migrant. When participants step away from the coordinates, the canvas reverts to its original view of a pixelated cloud, keeping the data concealed and hidden until the next participant chooses to engage.The pixelated filter acts as a shield or a protector. Similar to how migrants shield themselves from potential violence and harsh conditions, participants are voluntarily giving consent to see the hidden data, deviating from our usual ‘unawareness’ against certain information.
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