Academic work
Manifesto - Panopticon exhibition
To emphasize on the idea that the intensify level of surveillance are relative. Intense surveillance might seem ordinary to citizen in certain country, but that does not mean that it is allowable in others.
Panopticism is the social theory developed by French philosopher Micheal Foucault. The idea of panopticon creates an environment that blinds the occupant from viewing the watchman of a higher authority and power. As such, they will always have the thought of being constantly under surveillance without the watchman having the need to focus its attention on the occupant at all time.
The journey of the exhibition are divided into three portions. The prologue to the mass surveillance in public area, the experience of "to watch" and "to be watched" and lastly the epilogue, to allow the visitor to reflect on their city surveillance. The exhibition aims to showcase the types of force surveillance from the past and digital surveillance currently. The type of surveillance that requires much effort to function are make so convenient with the aid of digital camera.
The prologue space
Object placed in this introduction area of the exhibition are generally artwork of mass placement of surveillance camera. These object illustrate that the city have been flooded with surveillance camera that serve to protect our security. Or is it there to invade our privacy?
The interlude space
The continuation to the prologue, this space act as an transition space between the prologue and the guardhouse. Therefore the material chosen for this spaces are concrete and brick finishes which creates the effect of a back alley street similar to the backlane behind the shophouse.
The Guardhouse
The intention of "to watch" and "to be watched" happened at the heart of the exhibition floor space. With the light dimming to the minimal, the visitor are then able to view through the two-way mirror from this section. Benches are provided so as to allow the visitor to observe the other exhibition goers who have zero idea of this physical surveillance.
The Epilogue
The conclusion portion to the exhibition is to allow the visitor to reflect on the terror of mass surveillance in Singapore. Equipment which are use to safeguard the national security of the country could be used against it's own citizen personal privacy.
