Link of the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNQi06_v8mU&t=1s ← video
Original Piece: “Surveillance” Ai Weiwei
Our project was based around: Surveillance and how Surveillance Technology is reframing our social behavior and self-perceptions.
It also focuses on censorship within China and abroad
1st prototype:
We worked on a simple cardboard prototype and based the measurements on the original piece but adjusted some elements to better fit our esthetic. This prototype was not colored and did not have the top “roof” element to further the remake in closer relation to the original.
Updated Prototype:
We painted it white on the outside and black where the screen would be placed. We centered the base holding the camera and the round base holding the entire piece was updated to balance out its weight, including the weight of the iphone 5 which was used as a screen to display the video.
Our Remake:
We decided to stick with our cardboard material because it tied in with the intent of our remake. We wanted to represent the strong contrast between Ai Weiwei’s marble piece and our cardboard remake. Even though we do not have access to the same materials, we were able to showcase the same depth behind the piece and even surpass the original context by reflecting on Ai Weiwei’s on experience within our remake.
INTRO.
For our joint seminar and studio project, we have decided to work on remaking Ai Weiwei’s sculpture ‘Surveillance’. A potential advancement to the progression of this piece is based in the fact that we could use a different materials to portray with deeper meaning on the resources we are exposed to. Cardboard is a very DIY material and as a result give the audience a different impression in comparison to, for example, wood or plastic. The impact on the audience should remain the same, the sneaking sense of paranoia, however the outcome could differ in physical appearance, still maintaining the essence of a surveillance device, possibly make it a camera on a laptop or phone instead to modernise the piece to our current modern-day lack of privacy.
Audience:
The point of this remake is to show and inform the general public about government surveillance. His past experiences with this issue motivated him to make this work to expose the chinese government. It is not the first time he challenges the chinese regime as most of his work is being influenced by political problems he encounters and feels many other chinese citizens may relate to, as well as other people around the world.
Surrounding space tells a story:
Our remake piece of surveillance camera is displayed on the plinth which shows the surveillance camera is looking down to capture and track every movement. Furthermore, the height of the surveillance is high which could symbolize China authorities’ position or other specific group of people surveilling on people.