Art Mimics TSA Security In The Physiognomic Scrutinizer

With all the buzz and public outcry we’ve seen over the past few months regarding the TSA’s new full-body security scans, this security-spoofing art installation is strikingly resonant. Sure, that’s not a body scan they’ve got there, and sure, the installation was originally created back in 2008, but the biometric facial scanning and recognition analysis being performed here is given new weight by recent events.

Photo courtesy of Marnix de Nijs

The Physiognomic Scrutinizer, from Dutch media artist Marnix De Nijs looks like a typical security gate one might find at airports, football stadiums, and an astonishing number of public schools. De Nijs’ version, however, is equipped with biometric video analyzing software that detects and scrutinizes the faces of those passing through the installation (in its original incarnation, the gate was placed at a gallery entrance so those wishing to enter the gallery had to pass through “security”). De Nijs appropriates these surveillance and security technologies and then undercuts them with a comical edge—instead of analyzing the faces to find their true match, the software matches them to one of 150 nefarious figures pre-loaded into the database. Based on your facial expression and characteristics, you might be identified as any one of these infamous and morally corrupt characters, and your crimes against humanity will be announced before the public as you pass through the gate, as well as displayed on an accompanying LCD monitor.

Photo courtesy of Marnix de Nijs

From the artist’s website:

In a humorous way, De Nijs is reflecting on the bigger role biometric systems play in present day public space. By using biometric algorithms for physiognomic purposes, he is accusing the visitor of behaviour simply based on their physical appearance. The data base includes a variety of hand picked individuals connected with the hedonist pursuit: Feel Better. The list entails: soap stars, glamour models and celebrities present in sex tapes, even the world record gangbang holder; depressed writers and philosophers who committed suicide; transvestites; musicians with drug problems; and also those associated with the UFO religious movement. The genre of people we are known to fantasize over, but at the same time point the finger at because really there is no place for such unconventional behaviour in our pampered and over controlled society.

[via We Make Money Not Art]