Digital Panopticon: Inside the Matrix

As technology advances beyond human cognition, many services we rely on are increasingly builtupon the collection and analysis of users' network data. Platforms such as social media networks,search engines, and personalized recommendation systems utilize this data to enhance functionalityand user experience. Consequently, we are becoming more exposed to issues of data privacy andsecurity, raising important questions about how our personal information is handled and who hasaccess to it.

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"Digital Panopticon: Inside the Matrix" is a virtual exhibition that examines the issues of digitalprivacy, surveillance, and content moderation in modern society. Through the artistic method of datavisualization, utilizing data logs obtained from the backend of her personal Instagram account, theartist invites the audience to observe her personal digital world from the perspective of a digitalsurveillant. By exposing parts of her own data, the artist—also a regular user within the digitalcommunity—illustrates the vulnerabilities and vastness of personal information in digital spaces,emphasizing how personal data can be accessed, analyzed, and potentially exploited.

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The exhibition references the concept of the 'panopticon', a design of institutional buildings introduced byJeremy Bentham in the 18th century, characterized by an inbuilt system of control that allows asingle observer to monitor all inmates without their knowledge. In this context, the 'panopticon'symbolizes the pervasive digital surveillance of the modern age, where individuals may bemonitored by unseen entities without explicit consent or awareness.

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The exhibition is structured into two immersive spaces. In the first space, visitors encounter a scenedepicting a running computer, symbolizing the gateway to the digital realm. As visitors engage withthe installation, they are invited to embark on a simulated virtual journey—much like entering adream or crossing into another dimension—transitioning into the second space. Here, they delve intothe data world of the computer user, navigating through the artist's personal digital environmentfrom the perspective of an observer. This immersive experience allowing visitors to experiencefirsthand how personal information is collected, interpreted, and potentially manipulated byalgorithms and unseen entities.

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Through the art of data visualization, the exhibition showcases the vast amount of data generated bya single individual. The artist reveals the extent of information collected about her browsing habits,interest keywords, advertisement preferences, friend networks, and interactions with others on theplatform, she translates these into multiple data visualization and art pieces in the virtual world. Bymaking these invisible aspects of digital surveillance tangible, the artwork encourages audiences toreflect on the implications of their own online activities.

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It aims to increase understanding of the limitations and implications of data privacy inthe face of potential censorship or monitoring by governmental or neoliberal entities. It fosterscritical dialogue about our shared digital existence, underscoring the necessity of individualvigilance in protecting personal information. Through immersive sensory experiences—includingvisual effects, soundscapes, and spatial design—the virtual environment recreates the sensation ofinhabiting a monitored digital space, and evokes introspection and an awareness of constantobservation, prompting individuals to consider the impact of their online behaviors.

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By creatively visualizing and communicating the complex issues surrounding digital privacy,"Digital Panopticon: Inside the Matrix" becomes a catalyst for critical discussion on digital privacyand the pervasive role of surveillance in contemporary life. It invites visitors to reflect on their owndigital identities and consider measures to safeguard their personal data. "Individuals moving towardone another with longing, seeking unity in a fragmented world." The artwork calls upon the creativespirit within each person to engage with these critical concerns, fostering a collective movementtoward a more transparent, secure, and equitable digital future.

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Virtual Exhibition→