panoptICONS

The presence of surveillance cameras in the city center has become normal and accepted. It almost seems like a logical, natural part of the city. panoptICONS addresses the fact that we are constantly being watched by surveillance cameras in city centres. Because people don’t really notice this constant breach of their privacy, the cameras don’t make them feel safer. The reaction to this feeling of unsafety is often to put up more cameras. In this way the surveillance camera spreads through the city like a pest, a pest that feeds on our privacy.

To represent this, camera birds – city birds with cameras instead of heads – were placed throughout the city centre of Utrecht where they feed on the presence of people. In addition, a camera bird in captivity was displayed to show this feeding process and to make the everyday breach of our privacy more personal and tangible.


Don’t forget to check out the panoptICONS website!