The German artist Martin Backes looked at sharing through social networking sites and how this raises questions about the conditions of our identity, through photo’s, videos and likes. Backes believes although technology advancements are great it is important for the public to realise its downsides, and how this will therefore change ‘anonymity’ and its meaning as the digital age progresses. He focuses on the idea of identity theft, and how to protect our identities, to create a identity concealing mask. His piece, Pixelhead, was made in a limited number, of only 333 masks; which is believed to have further auspicious connotations. All masks consisting on eye and mouth holes, the mask itself cover’s the whole head with beach sport fabrics. The mask is believes to protect anyone who wears it from the social media. To purchase a mask it costs 158,000 euros including postage and packaging and will take up to 4 week to recieve, due to each mask being made on request.
Photograph of Pixelhead, Portraits in public space, The Artconnect Berlin Exhibtion, 2012
Available at:
http://www.martinbackes.com/pixelhead-limited-edition/
Bibliography:
Co.Design. 2011. “Pixelhead” Masks Your Face From Google’s Roving Cameras. [online
] Available at: http://www.fastcodesign.com/1663689/pixelhead-masks-your-face-from-googles-roving-cameras [Accessed: 4 Dec 2013].
Martin Backes – Official Website. 2013. Pixelhead Portraits. [online] Available at: http://www.martinbackes.com/portfolio/pixelhead-portraits/ [Accessed: 4 Dec 2013].
PSFK. 2012. Pixelhead_at_Artconnect4 – PSFK. [online] Available at: http://www.psfk.com/2012/09/pixelated-mask-hide-from-facebook-stalkers.html/pixelhead_at_artconnect4 [Accessed: 4 Dec 2013].
Artist As Curator 