security against security

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I-R.A.S.C.
The device developed by U.R.A. / FILOART offers the public reliable protection against governmental security measures (and those of other surveillance agencies). The I-R.A.S.C. offers security against security, and in so doing reveals the discrepancy in power between the state and the individual. The I-R.A.S.C. not only demonstrates systems of interaction, developed specifically for surveillance purposes between humans and machines, but also between machines themselves. This absurd accumulation of technology is symptomatic, for although the security measures are supposedly for the good of the people, the individual is considered less and less in current security concepts.

The I-R.A.S.C. is an infrared device, which protects against infrared surveillance cameras. It can be made by anybody; no special skills are required. The device radiates infrared light disrupting the reception of infrared surveillance cameras. A sphere of light covers the face of the person under surveillance and as the interaction is invisible to the human eye (at a frequency between 780nm and 1mm), the individual is unaware of what is going on i.e. they don't see the infrared rays emitted by either the surveillance camera or the I-R.A.S.C.

During the exhibition the device can be tested and video material with live footage viewed. Further video and printed material provide information on the panel discussion "Protection against Protection - Surveillance and Disciplinary Measures in the Public Space", which was part of the I-R.A.S.C. Project at the Kunsthaus Tacheles in Berlin.

This exhibition is presented in conjunction with the Warm up of the Stuttgarter Filmwinter and in collaboration with wand 5 e.V.