A huge black triangular structure, 20 meters per side, appeared in Madrid’s Plaza de Cibeles, directly opposite the historic Palacio de Cibeles. The temporary public art installation, called PANOPTICON, was created by Spanish urban artist SpY and ran for four days in late October. Its UFO-like shape contrasted strongly with the ornate architecture surrounding the square.
Small, discreet viewing sections allowed pedestrians to enter and look for themselves. CCTV cameras connected to the upper rim and apex of the structure fed an elevated live view of streetgoers, passing traffic and nearby buildings. Visitors could observe the space they had just walked through, looking at passers-by without being seen.
The design draws on the panopticon concept conceived in the 18th century by philosopher Jeremy Bentham. In his multi-tiered prison, an observation section in the center let an inspector monitor inmates without their knowledge. It lacked today’s technology, but it laid the foundations for surveillance as we know it.
The installation was designed to make people question how much they are observed in everyday public environments. Onlookers saw only a piece of modern art, unaware of the people inside watching them, which added to the eeriness. As CCTV networks and digital tracking become ordinary, ask yourself where you are being observed, and whether you know who is watching.
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