A surveillance system observes public life quietly. Security cameras record endlessly. They pause only to examine unusual activity. Security cameras monitor multiple viewpoints - stringing together a simulation of a place - meant to be observed off-site through a grid of monitors.
Through a series of field studies conducted in 2021, Carley Rickles embodied the qualities of a surveillance system to form a deeper relationship with the 4,700 acre Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Rickles field studies, which she calls “soft surveillance,” occurred on the Atlanta Airport grounds and surrounding its perimeter. Her explorations were open ended and spontaneous. While conducting soft surveillance, she visited the airport several times as a passenger and non-passenger. Rickles walked, drove, and flew around the Airport grounds throughout the course of several months. When she did pause to document interesting activity she often had little awareness of her geographic location. By removing the need to know where she was geographically, she was able to have more organic chance encounters with found “points of interest,” or sites which for whatever reason elicited an emotional response.
After field work Rickles created several experiential maps to further explore the links between her experiences and their geographies. Rickles’ experiential maps (shown in the Soft Surveillance book and exhibition) superimpose field work imagery with the stream-of-consciousness-like thoughts and research strands she formed during soft surveillance. The field images are organized in accordance with their geolocations. Rickles’ experiential maps gave her documented experiences (captured though recorded videos, photos, and writing) a geographic context and added depth to her relationship with the Atlanta Airport landscape.
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Soft surveillance was originally shown at the Atlanta Airport for the City as Site group show curated by Jess Berhart (2021-2023). in 2024 The work was adapted and expanded upon at Hi-Lo Press. new engagement additions included an installation titled, the control room, and an ar experience that was accessed via individual’s phones. an exhibition book was published in 2024. it is available below.
