REC is an interactive installation set in today’s cultural context where surveillance over the society is no exception, where face tracking and face recognition in order to collect powerful data is an integral part of digital tools we use every day. Apparently, today’s society is ready to embrace many forms of surveillance and data collecting believing that those which do not impose limits on the society can bring about more convenience. But unfortunately, we discover that our e-mails are read, we can be watched and listened by built-in cameras and microphones in our smartphones, TVs and computers and collected data are used to build economic power against personal privacy. Whether we like it or not, we engage in a daily interaction with real or virtual methods of gathering data about our lives. REC installation perfectly illustrates this modern system of dependence.
The viewer doesn’t really need to love art to become the focus of an artistic work. Likewise, the monitoring equipment does not necessarily need to be real to create an atmosphere of control. Sometimes a mere impression of its existence will do.
In the process of interacting with the installation the spectators’ approach usually evolves from just playing and having fun to the afterthought and moment when the question appears: is this data of me collected? And if so, what is it used for afterwards?
The installation is designed for city public spaces to enter it spontaneously, experience it and becoming part of it without time and amount of participants limitations.
REC installation was presented at the major forum for new media art in Poland and one of the leading international art events in Central Europe – Media Art Biennale WRO 2015, in 2016 at the Athens Digital Arts Festival ADAF in Greece, first premiered at the Kunsthalle Bratislava in Nov 2014.
