Link: What can a video 100 pixels high teach us about storytelling?

CAMP, a Mumbai-based studio established in 2007, creatively challenges conventional surveillance and recording systems. Utilizing digital archives and interactive cinema, they explore the depths of societal engagement with technology.

The studio's inaugural major US exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York showcases varied video projects until July 20th. It includes innovative films using cellphone footage from sailors and CCTV cameras repurposed to explore urban narratives.

I spoke with founders Shaina Anand and Ashok Sukumaran who emphasized the importance of an open digital archive. They believe in preserving footage outside conventional narratives, emphasizing unseen angles on daily life.

Their documentary, 'From Gulf to Gulf to Gulf,' features sailors documenting life at sea via cellphone, showcasing a vibrant, self-made music video culture. Despite their low resolution, these images are valued for their authenticity and raw insight.

The studio's commitment to maintaining comprehensive archives challenges typical notions of copyright and intellectual property. CAMP intends their archives to act as a participatory tool for collaboration and deeper exploration into everyday lives.

In another project, 'Khirkeeyaan,' local CCTV systems are transformed to create communal interactions, proving that surveilled spaces can foster rather than inhibit community connections. This work demonstrates innovative ways to re-envision how technology interfaces with society.

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