Surveillance Light Project

Concepts

About the project

Humans since 1982 very first project is a satirical concept that discusses surveillance in society. With an Orwellian ‘1984’ feel to it, the project blends the typical appearance of a surveillance camera with that of a light, creating an ambiguous reflection on the artists' thoughts about the political future. The concept resulted in four exclusive editions: the original standing lamp, a chandelier, a wall lamp, and a three-meter-high light sculpture.

The original Surveillance Light is a standing lamp.
Surveillance Light 3M

Surveillance Light 3M revisits Humans since 1982’s first collaborative work together, Surveillance Light (2008). The changes in use and attitude towards surveillance over the past decade are reflected in the developments to this concept since its first realisation. The original 2008 artwork was a satirical take on inviting surveillance into the home through Orwellian inspired lighting design, made at a time before we invited surveillance into our homes ourselves through tech companies such as Facebook and Google.

Now in the age of surveillance capitalism, Surveillance Light (3m) is a more combative and willfully intrusive installation than its predecessor, making visible our loss of privacy and conflicted response to private human experiences and behaviors being captured and commodified.

Surveillance Light (standing lamp)

Year: 2008
Dimension: 1650 x 500 x 500 mm
Material: Powder-coated aluminium, electronic components

Surveillance Chandelier

Year: 2011
Dimension: 1000 x 900 x 750 mm Material: Powder-coated aluminium, electronic components

Surveillance Light Single (wall lamp)

Year: 2011
Dimension: 300 x 300 x 150 mm
Material: Powder-coated aluminium, electronic components

Surveillance Light 3M

Year: 2019
Dimension: 3040 x 650 x 650 mm
Material: Surveillance equipment, electronic components

At three meters tall with illuminated ‘cameras’ facing in all directions, the sculpture draws parallels between CCTV and the legacy of the panopticon.
Surveillance Chandelier is a functional and striking set of spotlights, suspended from a powder-coated aluminium frame.
Surveillance Light Single is a functional and subversive spotlight that can be articulated in different directions.
The original Surveillance Light, 2008