ART-REVIEW: Surveillance Index-Performing Books #1

An exhibition that its subject is not the easiest and could fluctuate easily from boring to indifferent, but the perfect set-up, as well as one of the nicest videos which has flow and consistency and no tiring the viewer is the exhibition “Surveillance Index-Performing Books #1”at LE BAL in Paris. The exhibition explores the concept of surveillance both in the public and private space. Everything is black & white, poetically… magic… almost dreamlike… And if the viewer on the 1st level of the exhibition in a very well and comfortably configured space watches an 18 minutes video without getting tired even for a minute, in the basement has been set up a sample bookstore-research laboratory, with the titles of books printed on the walls and a second screen that surveillances the entrance of LE BAL. The bookstore has been compiled by the American Mark Ghuneim, this collection of over 200 photography books explores surveillance and its visible and invisible inner workings. The visitor wearing special white gloves can browse through the books and the artists catalogues to examine in depth the issue. The exhibition is an approach to monitoring and surveillance in our era in a really masterful way!!! -Efi Michalarou