Surveillance: exposure and resistance through art practices : A proposal for an exhibition script, framed as a challenge-oriented project by the Center for Contemporary Culture of Barcelona.

Abstract

The project Surveillance: exposure and resistance through art practices is a curatorial exhibition script proposal that explores how contemporary art practices reveal and contest surveillance mechanisms for control purposes in digital societies. The exhibition script was developed as part of the challenge-oriented project by the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB), adapted to the type, vision and space of the Center. The curators propose an exhibition consisting of three main sections: a timeline depicting the evolution of artistic responses to different surveillance techniques and apparatus, from 1791 until now, and two sections approaching surveillance from the perspectives of exposure and resistance. The timeline created is a prototype of the intended final version. It starts from the design of the Panopticon by Betham in 1791, as the authors deemed it an important event to the context of the exhibition proposed. It ties to the concept of self surveillance likewise seen with contemporary time government and capital surveillance. Special emphasis has been placed on reaching out to local and underground artists and researchers, providing a deeper understanding of the local scene and socio-cultural context. The project proposes a four-month exhibition featuring contemporary artistic interventions, experts and publics’ reflection and public participation and interaction. The exhibition invites visitors to critically engage with the dynamics of power, visibility and control in the digital age.