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MAILMAN SAYS CHEESE!! (2023)
Can our social-cultural understanding of mundane objects, in this case a ‘postal-system’ prevent, hinder, or mask our ability to recognize objects as an invitation for surveillance or threat?
Exploring the transformation of mundane objects into tools of surveillance. How would this change our preconceived notions about ordinary objects in our environment?
Aim: To explore how mundane objects can be employed for surveillance practices, and by placing it back into a public environment, how would this change our preconceived notions about ordinary objects in our environment?
Investigation:
-Political infrastructures on surveillance, surveillance capitalism
-Using mundane objects as a mode of trickery/deception to aid in surveillance practices
-Invasion of privacy and security
-Ethical Considerations behind using mundane objects
'Mailman Says Cheese! ' investigates the embedding of surveillance devices in mundane and everyday objects, specifically, a postbox. The project sparks a dialogue with the urban environment and questions the complex power structures inherent to the politics of ‘being watched’ and visibility/invisibility in public spheres.
Utilizing a playful and satirical approach, the project raises substantial debates on street surveillance, thereby challenging the regulation of surveillance practices as they become woven into the fabric of everyday mundane objects.
Can our social-cultural understanding of a mundane object, in this case a ‘postal-system’ prevent, hinder, or mask our ability to recognize objects as an invitation for surveillance?
To what extent can mundane objects be replaced as surveillance devices that can pose threat to our privacy?
Mailman Says Cheese! stages an experience of surveillance. Servo motors and distance sensors are used to create movement - imitating the notion of motion detection and tracking in surveillance cameras. LEDs are used to imitate the notion of video capturing and recording. The whole experience attempts to create an eerie and unsettling atmosphere and thus, reflects how surveillance practices are rapidly becoming a more intensive and normal instrument of modern government.
My initial route was to re-imagine the postbox as a device to collect biometric data, specifically iris recognition. Drawing inspiration from the 'peeping’ and ‘stalking’ effect, it reminded me of a tonometer — a tool for measuring pressure inside our eyes. The act of peering into a hole or inserting my eye into a hole triggered a flashback of having an eye test. The sudden blow of air always caught me by surprise.
What if the postbox aperture was used to collect data? I am intrigued by the idea of incorporating elements of play and surprise, creating an experience where the audience feels almost tricked while interacting with the work. Using this approach, I envisioned an object that can simultaneously foster confusion and surprise, all while discreetly collecting data through this 'deceptive' and 'playful' act’. This concept delves into the investigation of data collection and processing data on identity.
Whilst this concept has big potential, I feel that the simulation of the idea is difficult given the limited number of components we are allowed to use for this project. This prompted me to delve into research on surveillance and the shift of technology.
