Ai Weiwei: How to Block Surveillance Cameras

Artist Ai Weiwei has had a complicated relationship with surveillance cameras. Brain Pickings (via Brendan O’Kane) illuminates one facet of this with Ai’s instructions for making a long-reach camera-blocking device, from Hans Ulrich Obrist’s Do It: The Compendium. For academic purposes only:

Do you feel uncomfortable, confused, disgusted, or even irate because of a surveillance camera fixed at the wrong place? To block its view, spray-painting would be the best choice. It is highly accessible, inexpensive, and effective. Moreover, it is a perfect gesture in presenting street culture.

It is difficult to spray on a surveillance camera at a high place directly by hand. Instead of carrying a ladder on the streets, it is more practical to make an adjustable, easy-to-carry, and low-cost spray device.

It is best to use materials easily found from daily life to create this tool. [Source]

Michael Standaert suggests earning bonus points by using pollution-absorbing paint. CDT does not encourage or condone the use of spray paint for neutralizing cameras or marking diplomatic compounds for demolition.

Subscribe to CDT

SUPPORT CDT

Google Ads 1

CDT EBOOKS

Giving Assistant

Google Ads 2

Anti-censorship Tools

Life Without Walls

Click on the image to download Firefly for circumvention

Open popup
X

Welcome back!

CDT is a non-profit media site, and we need your support. Your contribution will help us provide more translations, breaking news, and other content you love.