Trevor Paglen's Exhibition at Secession: Revealing Surveillance and Hidden Military Activities through Art

This exhibition features the work of American artist, author, and experimental geographer Trevor Paglen, who focuses on making visible the hidden activities of US intelligence and military agencies. The show utilizes advanced photographic techniques and extensive research to explore themes of surveillance, hidden military operations, and the unseen world.

The exhibition at Secession centers on the work of Trevor Paglen, an American artist, author, and experimental geographer renowned for his exploration of the clandestine activities of US intelligence and military services, often termed the 'Black World.' Paglen's artistic credo appears to be 'making the invisible visible,' a pursuit grounded in meticulous observation, extensive research, and the accumulation of substantial data. To realize his art, which primarily comprises photography and video, Paglen employs sophisticated equipment such as specialized cameras and precision telescopes typically used in space photography. This allows him to capture images of vast, restricted military installations from extreme distances and to document satellite trajectories through long-term exposures, thereby revealing their existence. His work often relies on collaboration with international networks of amateur flight and satellite observers, whose data helps identify and track satellites and their orbits utilized by the CIA for global surveillance. Paglen critically examines the historical and cultural conditions of perception. His interest lies in phenomena not visible to the naked eye, such as satellites and drones, as well as concealed elements like the officially unmapped military bases in US deserts. Simultaneously, he draws attention to elements that are visible but go unnoticed due to everyday camouflage, the use of code names for secret military programs, or a general lack of political awareness and public interest. Trevor Paglen aims to sharpen our collective consciousness about the tangible reality of this 'Black World.'

Information and tickets for the exhibition can be found via a link to the Secession shop. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM.