Srimahi Paravastu
Willoughby Girls High School
THE NUCLEAR FAMILY
Ceramics
Terracotta clay with glaze
The concept of a 'surveillance state' may seem dystopian and irrelevant in the 21st century, yet it is a reality we inhabit due to late-stage capitalism. In my body of work I examine how covert surveillance is integrated into modern society through the internet and, increasingly, AI. My work references propaganda with the intention of highlighting the oppressive nature of surveillance capitalism and confronting audiences with historical parallels of authoritarian monitoring, now repackaged through digital platforms. I encourage audiences to reflect on the systems we participate in, often unknowingly, and the exploitation embedded in our digital interactions.
My artmaking practice has been influenced by the study and interpretation of the following artists: Shoshanna Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism [book]; Grayson Perry; Amanda Shelsher; Hito Steyerl.
