Orwellian: Creepy Art Installations Highlight Constant Surveillance

By Amanda Froelich

It’s nearly impossible nowadays to live in society without handing over your identity and having your whereabouts recorded 24/7. Truly. One cannot walk through a mall and not have their face caught on camera, and it’s very difficult to maintain a sense of privacy when one swipe of a credit card or a phone call documents your location on a global database.

While this is anything but inconspicuous to some, it’s unnerving for many others – for many reasons which are likely covered in Edward Snowden’s 2013 global surveillance disclosure.

If you’re one of the individuals put off by the constant surveillance, you’ll love what artist Jakub Geltner has been up to.

Similar to the activism carried out by artists in the Netherlands for George Orwell’s 110th birthday, Geltner’s project, called Nests, emphasizes the infection of surveillance in everyday life.

The Prague-based artist devoted four long years to the project, in which he mounted satellites and cameras liberally to areas that don’t require constant surveillance.

Dozens of cameras and satellites are mounted on oceanside rocks, by a riverside walkway, and on the side of a school and church.

The swarms of cameras in unexpected locations raise questions about the necessity of surveillance equipment in our society.

“Is the infestation of surveillance here to serve or spy?”

Every individual needs to ask themselves and their government this question, because before too long, it will be more difficult than it already is to escape the constant invasion of privacy.

All Image Credits: Jakub Geltner