Surveillance in liquid modernity : merging the physical and the virtual space to reflect on surveillance

Abstract

This research aims to use virtual reality techniques to merge the physical space with the virtual space to generate awareness on surveillance. The outcome of this research is an interactive installation titled ‘Meta-Gallery’, which uses virtual reality as its primary medium. It is suggested that before reading the text, the reader familiarises themselves with an overview of the installation, which can be found here (https://r4k.club/portfolio/meta-gallery/, 3-min video and photos). Nowadays, surveillance technologies can be found in many aspects of one’s personal life but not necessarily made aware of. This research aims to examine and visualise these technologies in Meta-Gallery and increase awareness within the participant about the notion of surveillance. The research is practice-based because its outcome is a physical artwork, and the primary research method used is evaluation, as introduced by Linda Candy (2013). The research method follows a trajectory initiated from theoretical research and then formed into a practice, documented throughout to evaluate each step, found in the methodology chapter. In order to gain participant feedback on Meta-Gallery, a physical exhibition named ‘exhibit-realm’ was held for a week in which the installation was made available to the public. Feedback was collected through recordings or written comments (Appendix B and Appendix C). It was part of the evaluation process to assess whether ‘Meta-Gallery’ was successful in its purpose. Ultimately, the feedback resulted in several participants feeling surveilled and wanting to escape the virtual. Participants communicated their feedback concerning surveillance encounters in their daily lives, demonstrating that Meta-Gallery successfully increased their awareness of the notion of surveillance.