ATTENTION
POSTE D'ÉCOUTE
TOUT MOT PRONONCÉ À MOINS DE 5 METRES
PEUT ÊTRE ENTENDU
L'AUTO-SURVEILLANCE EST SUGGÉRÉE

ATTENTION
LISTENING STATION
ALL WORDS SPOKEN WITHIN 5 METRES
MAY BE MONITORED
AUTO-SURVEILLANCE SUGGESTED

I was wondering at the time why people don't just say anything that comes to mind at any time (although some do). Why we stop ourselves from saying things which we feel at the moment ought to be said. Obviously we must develop some mechanism by which we censor ourselves.
Hence : Auto-surveillance.

Even as we learn to talk aren't we are also taught not to speak? First our parents, then our teachers and peers and finally our employers admonish us to "Think before we speak!" Think of what? Think of the consequences of saying this or that. Whom will it offend? What kind of trouble will you get into? Will you lose your job? your friend? alienate your neighbours, isolate yourself?

Surveillance Box:
27.5x40x42.5cm (11x16x17in)
Listening Station:
210x40x20cm (84x16x8in)
air duct, wooden display case, transmitter, receiver, speakers, text.
1990

How it works

A transmitter is located behind the grillwork in the Listening Station which in this exhibit is situated in the food court adjacent to the Artspace Gallery, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada which is approximately 200metres away.

A receiver and speakers are located inside the wooden case under which the spectator listens in on the sounds and conversations in the food court below.