Yesterday, Park Avenue Armory, a center for unconventional cultural artistry, opened “Hansel & Gretel,” an immersive installation that explores the issue of surveillance in today’s hyper-monitored world. The commission by Jacques Herzog, Hon. FAIA, and Pierre de Meuron, Hon. FAIA, of Herzog & de Meuron, and Ai Weiwei, allows visitors to be both the observed and the observer as they participate in the installation.
The audience travels through the Armory’s bunkers, being watched and recorded upon entering the dim and disorienting Drill Hall. Hidden cameras and infrared-capture drones loom overhead as a white light traces the path of each guest. As they continue, the light disappears into darkness behind them and the image of each visitor is projected onto the floor. Next, the audience enters the Head House “surveillance laboratory,” viewing and interacting with footage of the Drill Hall and facial recognition software. Here, visitors explore the history and repercussions of surveillance in our society. The footage is not only available within the exhibit—but also to a global audience via a live stream online.
By reversing the classic fairy tale—making it impossible to hide your location instead of purposely leaving a trail—the installation is meant to provoke a dialogue on privacy rights and the role of surveillance in modern society.
“Weiwei is an artist who has an innate understanding of the impact that built environments have on the artistic experience—as well as the direct experience of being watched 24/7,” said Pierre Audi, artistic director for the Armory, in the organizaton's press release. “Jacques and Pierre bring deep experience of the emotional interplay between the public and private domain. Together they provide the ideal complement in pushing each other’s practices.”
The project is co-curated by Tom Eccles, executive director for the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College, and Hans-Ulrich Obrist, a curator, critic, and art historian, and marks 15 years of collaboration for Herzog, de Meuron, and Ai. The trio has previously worked together most notably on the National Stadium in Beijing, more commonly known as the “Bird’s Nest,” during the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Hansel & Gretel runs until Aug. 6 and is open to the public every day of the week.
