Datenschutz

In German, "Datenschutz" directly translates to "data protection" or "privacy" in English. It refers to safeguarding personal data from misuse and unauthorized access, thereby ensuring individuals' privacy and rights regarding their information.

This art series delves into the sociological and, more profoundly, the philosophical dimensions of this concept. Can we truly implement data protection regulations to their fullest extent? Is it even feasible to be an active member of society while keeping all personal information entirely safe from the outside world? And if it is, might this not further contribute to the atomization of society, eroding the connections that once bound us together? Couldn’t we ultimately find ourselves in a world where anonymity prevails, and even our closest neighbor remains a stranger?

Through a playful collage technique, I aim to highlight the inherent controversies within the Datenschutz concept. The primary medium is the fading genre of street photography, yet in this project, it's ironically transformed into a more "appropriate" form: people's faces are intentionally removed from the images to comply with the laws. This creates an eerie, almost mannequin-like effect of, otherwise, lively street scenes. With reflective foils used as a background in some of the collages, viewers are invited to see their own faces mirrored in these "vacant" spots, prompting a direct engagement with the very privacy concerns being explored.

Ultimately, this project serves as a visual commentary on the delicate balance between personal privacy and societal connection in a hyper-surveillance world.