Berit Seidel

Are You With Me? Self-surveillance and archiving of a research collective between Zurich and Java.

Beginn des PhD-Programms / Start of the PhD-Program​:
WS 2023

Betreuung / Supervision:
Giulia Mazzorin, Philip Ursprung

I am a cicerone. I guide you through an abundant archive of self-monitoring images. Actually 10 million images, which where taken during the research project “17 Volcanoes” (2015-2017) between Singapore-Indonesia-Switzerland. The archive belongs to the artist collective U5, who where part of the research team. The Singaporean authorities flagged the research project as “failed”. That triggered my interest. We had to get to this point! I question research and travel behavior between expat and explorer, and I elaborate on the quantities and qualities of homework and fieldwork. I would have liked to see myself as a follower, but actually I am an offender, as we all are in the digital age. We serve “surveillance capitalism” (Shoshana Zuboff).

The thesis develops in three narrating perspectives: 1. Berit Seidel, who will get the PhD when I am done: she will frame the archive and my tour for other artists and architects. A.o. she will use the archive as a “Tarot ex post” to get in personal dialogue with her peers. 2. U5 arts collective, of which Berit is part of: U5 does self-surveillance since 2007. U5 will explain the design of the self programmed camera systems and the archive, including the changes in the project caused by their exhibitions, residences, teaching formats, and biographical and technical circumstances. E.g. there was a major transformation in the camera system in the period of the project, as it changed from a livestreaming camera to a single-board computer that functioned as a mobile surveillance prothesis. 3. The third part is my part, where I give a tour through the archive. As the archive is too big to be researched by one person in a conventional way, I decided to use chance, trust and patience. I will share the pictures and moments I found (and which I didn’t) and which I think are of interest. I will reflect on the absurdity of research travels. I will look for housing situations, transfer architectures, work spaces, etc. Luckily the cameras were running automatically, so I have much more to find, than 17 photos from the top of the Volcanoes. And before I forget, let me introduce myself: I am an avatar. I am an interpersonal transdisciplinary researcher who was part of the research project “17 Volcanoes” at the Future City Laboratory in Singapore. 

Kurz-Biographie / Short Bio:
Berit Seidel is an artist, researcher and lecturer in Zurich. She is a founding member of the artist collective U5 and has exhibited internationally. U5 addresses properties of collective modes of action and perception in artistic production, in exhibitions as well as within scientific projects and in teaching.

Email-Adresse / Email-Address:
b@92u.ch 

Website:
https://u5.92u.ch/