reflections unveiled
publicness vs. privateness Through the lens of surveillance

zaheen sandhu

Project Description

The approach towards privacy concerns in the digital realm tend to differ from those in urban spaces. In digital spaces, consent is typically requested (through prompts such as “I accept” buttons) whereas privacy in urban spaces is often encroached upon without explicit consent. As we step out of this digital space and enter urban spaces, we can see surveillance having a significant impact there as well, long before the digital era. The pervasive nature of surveillance in urban spaces raises important questions about the boundaries between public spaces and an individual’s privacy. When stepping out of our homes to commute to places, we are surrounded by several types of surveillance systems that have now become a part of everyday life, as in the case of CCTV cameras and RFID machines.

“Reflections Unveiled” is a physical immersive experience inviting visitors to explore aspects of visible and invisible forms of surveillance that surround them in the urban space. The immersive experience has been designed by using analog materials such as mirrors along with image projectors with the focus on depicting different elements of surveillance such as reflections, layers, and distortion. Further, by utilizing space, materials, and digital aspects, visitors will encounter data that is no longer invisible, providing a sense of visibility while uncovering how they are viewed through those surveillance systems.