Khirkeeyaan (khirkee-window / yaan-vehicle)
KhirkeeYaan is an exploration of an open-circuit tv system as a local area network communication, micro-media generation and feedback device.
It employed security apparatus,otherwise used for surveillance and 'secret' use. Television sets and cheap surveillance equipment, coupled with an RF modulator, mics, audio mixer and metres of coax cable were laid out to form collaborative conversation systems for the 'use' of the community-at-large. TV's and electricity, consent and participation were sourced on-site(s) often drawing from a multitude of sources.
Four sets of cameras,TVs and mics were planted within a 200 metre radius of each other. The cameras sat on top of the TVs and the audio-video from the four views were connected to a quad processor and audio mixer. This quadrant comprising of sound and image from all four locations was fed back to the TVs, allowing the subject/viewer/performer/audience to interact with others in the frame. Video became the ‘site’ for these interactions and conversations.
ChitraKarKhana’s prior
media projects have employed cheap and accessible DIY video and editing
software, hardware and skills to produce on-site 'televised' media. This
project pushes that envelope of site,community media and technology further.
Importantly,here the 'filmmaking' is automatic, made possible through
eye-level communication, real-time feedback and the absense of cameraman
and editor. The technology is even cheaper; no computers and DV technology,
but commercially applied CCTV and CATV equipmnet.
The 'televisation' produced conversations, performance, and rapidly-evolving subjectivities, all happening in 'local' time.
The 7 episodes were generated through 7 sets of installations in different
neighbourhoods in and around Khirkee Extension, New Delhi over 3 weeks,
during Shaina Anand's associate residency at Khoj
studios, April, 2006.
For videos, writing and related documentation see links to episodes.
.
See related project employing existing surveillance cameras in Ljubljana, October, 2006. >>>
Download short note on Khirkeeyaan. >>>
KhirkeeYaan received an honorory mention in interactive art at Prix Ars Electronica, September 2007 >>>
KhirkeeYaan videos have been installed at Khoj, Frankfurter Kunstverein, Sarai, Frieze Art Fair.
KhirkeeYaan currently on view at the AV festival, at the Hatton gallery. 28 April - 5 May >>>