Spyhole at Transition Exhibition
Influences
My interest for the use of CCTV cameras within my practical work was purely on a voyeuristic level. I wanted to explore human behaviour and how this behaviour and attitude towards the camera changed when realising they were being watched. The extrovert will usually perform for the camera, while the introvert will cover their face and hide from the camera’s gaze.
The shift from watching horror and thriller films to using CCTV cameras was fuelled by films that exposed voyeurism.
Peeping Tom has been praised for its psychological complexity. Several critics argue that the film is as much about the voyeurism of the audience as they watch the protagonist's actions. For example, Roger Ebert, in his review of the film, states that "The movie make us into voyeurs. We sit in the dark, watching other people's lives. It is the bargain the cinema strikes with us, although most films are too well-behaved to mention it."
My interest for the use of CCTV cameras within my practical work was purely on a voyeuristic level. I wanted to explore human behaviour and how this behaviour and attitude towards the camera changed when realising they were being watched. The extrovert will usually perform for the camera, while the introvert will cover their face and hide from the camera’s gaze.
The shift from watching horror and thriller films to using CCTV cameras was fuelled by films that exposed voyeurism.
Peeping Tom has been praised for its psychological complexity. Several critics argue that the film is as much about the voyeurism of the audience as they watch the protagonist's actions. For example, Roger Ebert, in his review of the film, states that "The movie make us into voyeurs. We sit in the dark, watching other people's lives. It is the bargain the cinema strikes with us, although most films are too well-behaved to mention it."
Advice
After discussing with my peer group and tutor Frank it would seem that the aesthetic style in which I have applied to my work (using a roughly cut spy hole made from cardboard) works well, with the idea of the voyeur and the peeping tom. Sticky fingerprints and sweat marks can be left behind on the cardboard. With the idea of a peep show in mind I have decided to experiment with different cheap materials such as brown tape, wall paper and paper to create a spy hole. I may even add a pungent smell of cheap aftershave and cigarettes to the installation.
After discussing with my peer group and tutor Frank it would seem that the aesthetic style in which I have applied to my work (using a roughly cut spy hole made from cardboard) works well, with the idea of the voyeur and the peeping tom. Sticky fingerprints and sweat marks can be left behind on the cardboard. With the idea of a peep show in mind I have decided to experiment with different cheap materials such as brown tape, wall paper and paper to create a spy hole. I may even add a pungent smell of cheap aftershave and cigarettes to the installation.
The final installation
Transition Exhibition offered a space to locate Spy Hole, the first piece of realised work that was shown during the MA Fine Art course outside of the university.
Using two CCTV cameras and three TV monitors, allowed visitors to view one another but never to confront their own gaze. The notion of voyeurism was patently explored via one monitor that was used to frame the visitor’s bum when they chose to look through a Spy Hole.
Spy Hole statement for Transition Exhibition:
Lucy Stevens is an ‘experiential’ artist, as the title suggests she wants the viewer to experience rather than observe the artwork. Spy hole uses CCTV cameras and monitors as a vehicle to explore the fear and pleasure in watching and being watched.
Using two CCTV cameras and three TV monitors, allowed visitors to view one another but never to confront their own gaze. The notion of voyeurism was patently explored via one monitor that was used to frame the visitor’s bum when they chose to look through a Spy Hole.
Spy Hole statement for Transition Exhibition:
Lucy Stevens is an ‘experiential’ artist, as the title suggests she wants the viewer to experience rather than observe the artwork. Spy hole uses CCTV cameras and monitors as a vehicle to explore the fear and pleasure in watching and being watched.
Development of Spyhole
After a tutorial with Frank it seemed that he thought Spy Hole would have been better displayed if I had thought through the domestic role of using wall paper and taken this role further by using flowered wall paper, tacky cocktail tables and old battered TV sets.This was my initial idea for Spy Hole but I felt that this aesthetic would be far too over the top and commanding. I also feel that this type of wallpaper would have gave the wrong impression of the work as if it were created just to shock and had used obvious domestic connotations that would have possibly taken over the actual Spy Hole.Spy Hole was something to stubble upon within the gallery space. The use of white 80’s textured wallpaper and television sets referred to my home life when growing up.
