CONSPICUOUS Katy Mutton
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION The ANU School of Art & Design presents Conspicuous, an ephemeral installation by Katy Mutton that transforms the Foyer Space into a world created in paint and 3D elements. The work has emerged from Mutton’s response to ideas around data mining and population surveillance. It invites us to peel back a few layers and contemplate our own relationship with data tracking. Conspicuous, explores the covert tactics of modern security and surveillance that are undertaken on behalf of the Australian public. On one hand, Australians understand that the Government employs a diverse range of security strategies, but the exact nature of their tactics are opaque. For Mutton, the existence of the Australian Signals Directorate verified twitter account, and particularly their first tweet in October 2018, summarises this duplicity: Hi internet, ASD here. Long time listener, first time caller. Small 3D printed nodes, appear throughout the installation at points of intersection in the graphic mural. The decagon form of these nodes, and the large-scale painted dome on the western wall of the Foyer Space, allude to geodesic radomes. The Five Eyes nations and designated trusted allies frequently use Geodesic radomes, which are strong but lightweight polyhedron structures. They are used to house a myriad of electronic telecommunications and data transfer equipment aiding different government agencies in the surveillance and monitoring of foreign friends, enemies, and domestic civilian targets. Housing this surveillance and communication equipment, the domes effectively act as terrestrial network conduits, collecting and sending satellite data to processing centres around the globe. The Geodesic radomes are able to be used to conceal their particular surveillance activity. Conspicuous applies the abstraction of elements in a physical space as a symbolic representation of what we do not see hidden in plain sight. The bright, bold colours of the painted murals activate the Foyer space, inviting visitors to immerse themselves. Mutton uses simple illusory tricks that play with colour, perspective and proportion to create a curious encompassing environment. Far from the colours usually associated with military and governments, playful pinks and purples dominate this world and overwhelm. Mutton describes Conspicuous as an invitation into her own uneasiness and internal conflict with the worlds beyond what we see. Contemplating on the activities we know exist but that we struggle to perceive or acknowledge. We never stop to read the fine print.
Skipping into a surveillance state, blinded by distractions and deadlines. Stopping to smell the candy clues, the sweet scent of social media overwhelms. Signals are sent from this node to that node. Messages are constant and data is collated to continue the expanse of an imperceptible underworld that monitors THEM but never us. The benign is a barrier, we barely notice, it blends into the perfect mask. Jokes and warmth put us at ease – Agencies tweet like they’re friends, make me laugh and I’ll trust you. You can’t spy on me I’m Australian. There are laws. But the EYES have it and there are no private places. You don’t watch us. I am not safe. You watch everything. Danger is everywhere, monitoring protects me. It’s all for me. You care about me, you know me better than I know myself? You make helpful suggestions to me when you hear me talk about something I need. I don’t need to think anymore, I can relax while you predict my behaviour, you know me. I follow the crumbs, follow the trail, I consume the house until you lead me to the next and then I need you more. I think I am giving you everything, but you already have it. It’s complicated because you tell me terror is everywhere. Know this, but don’t believe it. You have so many layers, they are spread around the globe, they are networked and always connected – actually and virtually. You are conspicuous in your insidiousness.
- Katy Mutton
ABOUT THE ARTIST Katy Mutton is an interdisciplinary visual artist whose work frequently explores the impact of war, and the proliferation and application of military and surveillance technologies, as well as their impact on popular culture. Her work exploits the manipulation of perception, propaganda and camouflage techniques, and often plays with colour shifts and abstracted topographies. Mutton’s work spans drawing, printmaking, painting, installation and public art. She graduated with a Bachelor of Visual Art from the ANU School of Art and Design in 2010, and she holds a BA in Environmental Design (University of Canberra, 2002). Mutton lives and works in Canberra and is currently the Communications Manager at Megalo Print Studio + Gallery. In 2018, Mutton was the recipient of The Rosalie Gascoigne Memorial Award from the Capital Arts Patrons Organisation and has been the recipient of two Canberra Critics Circle Awards (2017, 2014). In 2016, she was awarded the Print Council of Australia Commission – Artspace Sydney Residency Award for her screen print The Stack. Mutton has created significant large-scale public artworks including a ‘dazzle camouflage’ inspired boat transformation In Plain Sight on Lake Burley Griffin for the festival, Contour 556 (2016). Her largest public work to date was a turf painting commission, Pattern Logic, an ephemeral work spanning 10,000 sqm across Regatta Point in Canberra for Floriade (2017). Katy’s work is held in many public and private collections including The Australian War Memorial, Bega Valley Regional Gallery, City of Yarra VIC, Curtin University Collection WA, Mildura Regional Gallery, The Molonglo Group and The State Library of Victoria.
School of Art & Design Gallery College of Arts and Social Sciences Australian National University http://soad.cass.anu.edu.au