Trace Recordings examined systems of surveillance in the 21st century, exploring the ways these increasingly pervasive and sophisticated technologies are altering our behaviour, shifting our ideas of public and private selves and stimulating new forms of portraiture derived from surveillance data.

From the DNA left on chewed gum to top-secret NSA listening stations, the exhibition cast an artistic light on the scale and capabilities of contemporary surveillance networks and offered creative measures for individuals to reclaim control of their identities.

Curated by Chris Gaul and Holly Williams, Trace Recordings featured works by Denis Beaubois (AU), James Bridle (UK), Mahwish Chishty (PK), Paolo Cirio (IT), Heather Dewey-Hagborg (US), Benjamin Gaulon (FR), Adam Harvey (US), Trevor Paglen (US), Shinseungback Kimyonghun (KR) and Matt Richardson (US).

The accompanying public program included workshops, curators’ floor talks and Welcome to the New Normal, a panel discussion featuring experts in computer vision, law, intelligence, psychology, journalism, criminology and sociology discussing the implications of surveillance in a networked world.

• View the project website
• Read a review by the Guardian
• Listen to Welcome To The New Normal