Ideas on aesthetic developments of the work.
Lighting
I think the perception of this work would vary a lot based on the lighting used within the installation. Because of the themes of the work I feel that darkness would be most suitable. By putting the work in darkness another eerie quality is added, further submersing the audience in the theme. An interesting potential way to add minimal lighting could be to use video. By using something like live camera feedback onto screens or projectors could both light the room and comment on the theme of surveillance simultaneously, this is something I will be trialing in element 2.
Another way the installation could be partially lit could be to use sensors to trigger light. This could be another way to draw influence from the Armadillo security device. This could be aesthetically interesting but perhaps logistically challenging and maybe even hazardous.
Performance
Inspired by Julia Scher I have considered developing the work with the addition of performance art. I think the work could be more interesting with a policy of one audience member at a time enforced by a performer ‘guarding’ the installation allowing entry individually. This could include a reworking of typical security guard uniform and a small selection of phrases to be spoken by the ‘guard’. Through the performance the work would be experienced differently as the installation would start before the audience enters the room and also as it would facilitate individual interactions with the work, because the work includes sensors, the experience is more rich if each person is able to interact with the work and trigger the sounds (less likely to happen if multiple people in the room)
In this sketch, I have placed the sensor and the phone at opposite ends of the room. By doing this, audiences trigger the distance sensor upon entering the room, the layout encourages them to walk away from the Armadillo alarm sound (in a way rebelling against it) and go through the soundscape to reach the phone where they can listen to voice speak about surveillance.
In this sketch, I have positioned the phone and the distance sensor/ corresponding speaker next to each other. I think it would be interesting for the audience to trigger the sound when approaching the phone because it could make the vocal content on the phone be understood differently perhaps as if it were protected
In this sketch, I have illustrated the desired route I would ideally like audiences to take. This would require two separate doors on opposite sides of the room which may be difficult to find. I would encourage this way of interacting with the work by marking the floor in a similar formation to the dotted line in the sketch. I think that this route would be optimal for experiencing the work because the audience would trigger the sensor, then walk through the soundscape, finally reaching the phone as the sound from the sensor is ending (depending on room size walking speed etc.) they could then listen to the phone and exit without re-triggering the sensor.
Another idea for developing this work further would be to create a reimagined Armadillo device by flattening it. This would include a sensor for light and a sensor for sound, the light would be triggered if triggered by 75cm and the sound would be triggered by 45cm.