Multichannel video
8 - 12 minutes variable
24 x 12 feet / 731 x 366 cm
2017

Sempiterno is a multichannel video installation that offers a powerful commentary on our surveillance culture. The installation features 32 video channels, each projecting a video portrait of human life, creating a sense of a panopticon where everyone is under constant observation. The individuals in the videos are caught in repetitive, fidgeting loops, suggesting the loss of individuality and agency that can occur through conditioning. The use of the sound of a clock as the stimulus to provoke the subjects' automatic and unconscious responses, drawing on the concept of Pavlovian conditioning. The repetitive and seemingly meaningless actions portrayed in Sempiterno allude to the dangers of conditioning and the way it can cause a loss of agency and individuality.

Through Sempiterno, the artists offer a poignant reflection on how surveillance affects our everyday lives, both online and offline. The installation immerses the viewer in a world where privacy is non-existent, and surveillance is ubiquitous. The multiple video channels create a disorienting effect that amplifies the overwhelming feeling of being watched, under constant scrutiny, and having nowhere to hide.

The title of the work, Sempiterno, refers to something that has a beginning but no end, suggesting an eternal loop or cycle. This concept is echoed in the repetitive actions of the individuals in the video installation, who seem to be caught in an endless cycle of behavior. The lack of variation or change in their actions reinforces the idea of a never-ending loop, further emphasizing the title's significance. Moreover, the installation alludes to the idea of societal conditioning, where certain behaviors and norms are passed down through generations without necessarily understanding why they exist or where they came from. These behaviors become ingrained in us and accepted as the norm, leading to a loss of agency and individuality.