Ctrl_Space

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Orus Mateo Castano Suarez, Juan Sulca, Aileen D, Yu-Shien Yang

"In the digital era, where surveillance is omnipresent yet often invisible, our art installation, ""Ctrl_Space,"" brings Michel Foucault's theory of the Panopticon into a contemporary context. This interactive installation features three large, mechanical eyes, each meticulously crafted to follow the movement of visitors, simulating the unnerving sensation of being constantly watched. Panopticon is a design principle where a single watchman can observe all inmates of an institution without them knowing whether they are being watched. In our adaptation, the eyes represent the pervasive surveillance tools in our digital age, subtly highlighting the loss of privacy and autonomy. As the visitor moves through space, the eyes' motion sensors activate, creating an eerie and thought-provoking experience. This installation invites the audience to reflect on the implications of living under perpetual surveillance and to question the power dynamics at play in our increasingly digitized world. A unique feature of ""Ctrl_Space"" is its interactive alarm system. When a visitor is tracked outside of a predefined frame, an alarm is triggered, symbolizing the breach of invisible boundaries in our surveilled world. This kind of invisible control is like another '1984' or 'Truman's World'. Power is invisible, but everything is self-regulated and introspective within the group's self-adjustment. Through "" Ctrl_Space,"" we aim to spark a dialogue about the psychological effects of surveillance and the erosion of privacy, urging viewers to consider their role and response in this ever-watching digital landscape."