Slow Walking under the Red Eyes

By infiltrating the Amsterdam office district, I inhabited one of the smart office buildings for about a year. While researching the spaces inside the building, one thing that stood out was the absence of any type of control switch. Everything was automated by the AI system, including lights, air ventilation, and temperature change. On the other hand, it meant the various types of sensors were constantly monitoring and collecting the data of the people working in the building. This performance was a game to trick the sensors that were covering the ceiling of the whole building, and more specifically the red-lighted motion sensors. By walking as slowly as possible, I tried to deceive their gaze, almost invisibly, testing the limits of presence and surveilance.

2024, Video duration: 4 hours and 7 min (full length video can be shared via request only)
https://youtu.be/5AiaqmRB_fg

(Counter) Productive

Who dictates the rules of the space we work in?
Starting from this one question, this performance was made in the form of an intervention at an office building in Amsterdam Zuid. During the regular working hours of the office spaces, I placed myself in the lobby couch and lied down to test the limits by going against the rule of looking productive. Doing nothing except eating and using the toilet for 7 hours eventually made the seemingly open and flexible environment to reveal the unspoken rules that restricted our movements.

Presentation at Gerrit Rietveld Academie Graduation Show 2024