Project #6 Experimental Camera
images taken by camera
Description
This is a camera that can hide your facial identity by blocking your eyes. You can also check what is blocked on the right corner of the screen. I want to express the feeling of fear, anxiety, uncertainty and distrust when we see a camera and thinking about what it is used for and who is looking at us through the camera. Face as our unique identity is widely used as a way for camera recognition. Sometimes we don't even know what they are analyzing and what are they recording. The poping up figures in the background are possible people who are watching us. The green light beside the camera isn't a trustful signal in some situation. What if it is just an illusion? Are we safe? I want to create a scene that people feel a balance in this interaction. The red block helps people to build up a feeling of safety. But in reality, the whole show is just a fantasy. When we walk on the street, when we use the bathroom, when we stare at our phones, when we use our laptops, the invisible stress will always be there unless the camera disappears.
Design Process
I was deciding to do the Chuck Close "self-portrait" style of mosaic art and this eye blocking idea. I feel this path can best illustrate my feeling and thinking toward the camera. I met some tecnical problems when I'm doing the coding part. I was intended to make the red box a mosaic box, but it ends up to be so stuck as a ppt. So the red is my pick. It is a warning, an emotional expression. Tells my feeling about the camera--the media here. I wish my feeling can best send to the audience and let them think about this media before they take it for granted.
Reflection
I feel I've always ignore the power of vision since I have used a personal camera that was facing to me. I am a photographer and my attitude to the camera is that I don't want to show up in the photos. I would rather hide behind the camera and watching others. I think that's why I like this project so much. It helps me to think in a opposite direction through the camera and to see my own face is strange. It is different to see myself through a mirror becaouse I know this media can be stored and spreaded out. And the visual message can be sent to someone I don't know. That is scary.