🍪 "The Spy" - surrealistic approach to the ever watching big brother
Back in the 1980s the (west) German government wanted to collect some information about the people living in the country. It was called "Volkszaehlung", (census of population)... pffft, as if they didn't have everyone on record. And if there was someone without a file, that person most likely didn't want to have one created.
From today's standpoint, the information, that was to be gathered seems pretty "harmless". Nowadays, any decent business with a web shop knows more about us. Let alone the big guys, like google or the so called social networks. Nevertheless, privacy and keeping personal information personal, was still a big deal and there was so much resistance about disclosing address or date of birth, that the Government finally had to give up on the project.
The right methods to make people freely give away all the data, simply were not developed yet...
Today, any time I look at a computer screen or mobile device, I can't shake the feeling of someone looking over my shoulder.
Someone is always there, our favorite communication devices are full of candy... ahm cookies! God, what a name for it anyways. As if one liked them better, if one thought they were sweet :-b
But hey, we do get a choice, right? I'm thinking of this little check box, for instance. "Do you accept these terms?" Sure. What if I didn't? Well, then I don't get my cookie! Pun intended ;-)
A little while ago, I was reading through a magazine. No, not a digital online publication. One of these old fashioned things. Made from paper! While I was thumbing through the pages and reading the articles, I suddenly became aware, that nobody knew, that I was doing that and what I was looking at! 😱 Anarchy!!
The absurd thing is, that I have become so used to doing things on a computer and having every move and interest tracked, that the absence of that felt sort of raw and unusual!
The mechanism on my painting "The Spy" looks crude compared to today's possibilities. Its an older painting, inspired by Orwell's "1984" and the "Volkszaehlung" mentioned in the beginning. Little did I know, how it would all develop...
The painting is done in my special glass painting technique. I also made the frame, as I do with all my glass originals. This one is riveted titanium-zinc.
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All photos/scans by me of my own artwork done in my special technique as introduced in What is Hinterglas?
That's a pretty ugly painting.
I remember very well the "census" and the excitement associated with it. And the sense of triumph that we citizens resisted. Yes, in fact, it is downright cute compared to today.
For my part, I know I'm a transparent person. You're talking about a very sensitive subject, to which one can develop paranoia. The personal sphere is today more unprotected than ever before, if you refer to the possibilities of technical supervision. The possibilities of denunciation, when it enters a nation, are almost unbelievable. Some time ago I read a novel about the period of communism in China and I got nauseous. Then I think: no matter what the state of the art, as soon as a state subjugates its citizens in this way, it can do so without having to use the technology: with an extremely efficient approach: to make them afraid. Media is probably the right word. With radio and print this has worked quite well before. All right, then. I don't think it will ever be the case that in a state everything is what you would call "perfect". I have been living for over forty years and never before have I felt as unfree as my parents, for example. The comparison sometimes puts things into perspective in a way that I don't like, but that is sometimes necessary. Freedom is a big term.
Hahaha... its a pretty ugly subject! 👁
Completely agree with you and one could easily get paranoid.. I actually do every now and then. The camera on my ipad is covered with a sticker, but we are all surrounded by microphones, that can be turned on at will by the right person. Ok, not the right person of course, I mean someone who has access to the necessary resources. And you are right, fear is one of the main "tools" for control. Always has been, in former centuries it was the devil, people were afraid of, today its the stock market going down.
They trigger our emotions and as psychology is becoming more and more refined, the methods become even more sneaky. You know more about it than I do of course.
I am very grateful, that I may live in a system of relative freedom. Its quite amazing, that we can call our political leaders bad names and ridicule them in caricatures and not get our heads cut off! I also think, they finally found the "better communism". One doesn't feel it, so to speak. Not that we live in a communist system. I'm referring to the level and methods of control in a system.
Think of old school communism like someone controlling sand. If it came right down to it, you could actually take each single grain and do something with it. What "they" do today, is more like controlling water. OK, with the right technology you could manipulate single molecules, but lets not split hair. With water on our normal level of perception, you are no longer dealing with individual (particles), so one sets boundaries and makes sure through control, that the water goes where they want it to go. Surveillance at a sophisticated level is to make sure, those who think about peeing in the pool are detected, before they actually do it... unfortunately, you could get "detected" for the thought alone too, without the intention. Hope my "picture" makes sense..
yes, it makes sense.
But you know what? I think most of us are actually very well adopted to the system we live in. More, than we would like to admit. Only by circumstances, that alone is enough. We were assimilated even before born. Conditions were long set and I entered this world without knowing that I am a "good" citizen.
I do not believe that the leading class (or politicians or rich) is having a plan. Maybe I am wrong but I do not care so much, even though I had my camera lense covered for about two years. Just recently removed it because of a skype session with a friend.
I will appear on the radar as a molecule or a sand corn whenever I interfere with thy systems which need my data. Mostly just smoothly I am sliding through. But when I start to think about technology marrying bureaucracy I get the creeps. When it is connected to matter of health, for example. You read my article about organ donation? That is something I do not cope with.
So, I am too, having my fears. But actually not for myself but for my child. ... And then, and then, ... well, let's leave that. Your painting is expressing those anxieties in a much too well manner:)
Sorry for my late reply... been in my studio a lot and there I'm sort of "offline" :-)
Of course we are all used to the way things run and we don't think of it much in our every day routines. I also wouldn't care about being on some radar as a remote light dot.
But what if something freaky happens? Someone decides, that because of a certain combination of stored bits and bytes you become a target? You know... we all feel mostly safe in our cars, but that doesn't mean a truck can't hit us the next moment... Yeah, I too find it creepy, when technology and bureaucracy join forces and like you say, what's it all gonna be for our children?
OK, trying to find your post on organ donation now.
ich antworte dir mal auf Deutsch. Ich bin wieder mal mit einem entzündeten Auge unterwegs und werd Steemit eine Pause schenken. Will nur sagen, wundere dich nicht, wenn du nichts von mir hörst oder keine votes bekommst. Ich muss kürzer treten. Hier noch mein Artikel zum Organspenden:
https://steemit.com/deutsch/@erh.germany/organspende-wann-ist-ein-mensch-wirklich-tot
Ich wünsch dir Liebe & Gesundheit! <3
Erst mal Danke für Deine lieben Wünsche. Ist echt das wichtigste. Nach den Upvotes natürlich (kicher)
Wenn's an die Augen geht, wirds wirklich ernst. Ich wünsche Dir auf jeden Fall gute und schnelle Besserung!
Danke für den Link. Bin auf dem Sprung in Atelier, werde aber später auf jeden Fall rein schauen!
Liebe & Gesundheit auch für Dich!
Wonderful! As you probably know i enjoy exploring similar themes - Orwell is a great inspiration. Your hinterglas technique is stunning, plus a rather fitting medium when discussing how we give away our privacy via the glass screens in our lives.
Yes, I have seen you exploring these themes. Paritcularly on the hardfork series thingy. All very interesting and terrifyingly fascinating. I often wonder, which way mankind is heading and if its going to be the dystopia many artists are envisioning.
I'm rally torn, sometimes I get optimistic, when I see the enthusiasm and visions of mainly a younger generation and initiatives like the PAL network and initiatives like that. Other times I think, thank god I'm too old to have to live through it... but what about our children... :-((( I do hope the new technologies will be used for the better.
This looks so cute and evil at the same time!
That's what makes something so devious. It may look harmless, but...
All camouflage and manipulation, to get you 😎 🤡😵👽 👾 🤖
Lol devil in disguise is much more dangerous I agree!
Hello @reinhard-schmid! You're painting is amazing. Reminds of one of my nightmares, where there was this huge scary creature at one point. I'm intrigued by your glass technique, I'll make sure to read your other post! I loved "1984" and I'm very interested in the theme of invigilation. Thanks for sharing your art and your thoughts on the topic! :) Klaudia
Thank you for this really nice comment! My figure/device is supposed to have this creepy element, although its partly covered up and may even appear harmless or naive, but representing the exact opposite. Yes, "1984" was always a big one for me too. I see, you are from Poland.. are you familiar with Stanisław Lem?
I adore Stanisław Lem! I've read most of his novels. My favourite one I think is 'Solaris', I also liked 'The Futurological Congress' a lot and several other short stories by him. Do you like his novels? You know, I like a lot what you said about the harmless appearance of your figure/device. In many of my works I draw partly hidden or covered creatures. I think that this element adds a threatening vibe, and I like how unknown your device remains... how does it work under the cloth? Scary! I like it a lot!
You’re so funny...I like how you felt rather renegade or anarchist looking at a paper magazine unbeknownst to any search engine data collectors! No trace was recorded, like paying with cash...also something most of us have stopped doing.
I enjoyed this post. 🤗
Oh yes, the good old cash! Another thing of the past soon I think. A lot of politicians are talking about taking it away. Wonder what they'll do about crypto currencies. I have a friend who is convinced, "they" can easily block the part of internet traffic that one needs for that...
With our history, I think Germans are particularly sensitive to manipulation and control through those in power. Problem is, that the methods are being constantly refined and our perception and preferences might be changed without us even noticing.
I really like the painting, definately speaks to my psyche.
On the topic of choice, we definately have choice. It's important to conciously recognize we have choice, and act on our preferences, or we becomes slaves in our imagined prison.
Many services are designed specifically for customer simplicity and ease of use, which means giving up some privacy or freedom. Being easier doesn't limit choice, without it we wouldn't have the easier choice. If we take affront to it, it's important to vote with our voice and withdrawl from participation, or it will be assumed we condone it.
I feel it's a tradgedy of decreasing integrity, so few people are willing to speak up, or take a few more seconds, to protest for the security of their freedom. I'm increasingly anxious the cultures of freedom are being taken over by untoward ideologies, incentivized to act against the interests of individuals.
I followed you, I'll check out some more of your work. Still kinda new to steem, I find blockchain an exciting technology, largely for the reasons i mentioned.
Thank you for your really meaningful comment! I think with the new possibilities of blockchain technology and projects like utopian.io hopefully power will be more decentralized and lead to more personal freedom. The one thing in the way is most likely stupidity and ignorance, which always lead to the ideologies you mention.
Exciting times!
“The longer you look at an object, the more abstract it becomes, and, ironically, the more real.” - Lucian Freud
So true!
Since you have now admitted to your transgression on digital media, "they" know all about your rebellious magazine reading activities. ;-)
lol! Guess I blew it! You know what's really freaky? The moment I clicked reply, my phone, which is part of the network made a weird click sound. Better watch your back too, Leo!
My phone "randomly" turns the GPS on and sometimes the BlueTooth. It never did that in the past.
Here's a video for you on this topic.
We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads
Wonderful art
Thank you :-)
Like all your work @reinhard-schmid I love this piece. I have prepared a musical interpretation of this piece. I hope you enjoy. You can read my full curation post on my blog.
Cheers,
Bucky
Brilliant!! Many thanks to you, I love it :-)