Abstract

Keywords: Interaction, blinking, surveillance, computer vision.

This paper presents the interactive installation Memoirs of the Blind, using it to reflect on the impact of surveillance technologies in contemporary and future society. The installation consists of an acrylic box containing a screen showing a desaturated face with its eyes closed.
When the visitor blinks, the installation detects it and photographs them at the exact time of blinking, replacing the face displayed with the new photograph. The artwork subverts the subject-object relationship between itself and its visitors, while reflecting on our relationship with technology, providing a contemplative reflection on its aesthetics.
The paper discusses our relationship with automated surveillance, and the impact of the difference between machine time and human time exploring the role that artistic production can play in the analysis of contemporary socio-political issues.

• Tomas Laurenzo, PhD, is an artist, computer scientist, and academic working with both physical and digital media. His work explores the artistic construction of meaning and its relation with power and politics. Laurenzo’s production spans across different practices, including installation, interactive art, music, live cinema, creative machine learning, and digital lutherie. His artworks and performances have been shown globally. He is Assistant Professor at the School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong and has published extensively in the areas of New Media Art, and HCI.

Full text (PDF) p. 607-610

The work described in this paper was partially supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No. CityU 11674416), and partially supported by a CityU Strategic Research Grant (Project No. CityU 11615218).