Dave Kemp (MVS, Visual Studies 2007)
Dave Kemp is a visual artist who looks at the intersections and
interactions between art, science and technology, in particular at how
these fields shape our perception and understanding of the world. Dave
graduated from the Master of Visual Studies program at U of T, where he
also completed the Collaborative Program in Knowledge Media Design. He
also has an Image Arts (photography) BFA from Ryerson University and a
BScE in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University.
His latest project is a series of identity card "portraits" titled
Data Collection. It involved photographing the
identification cards (driver’s licenses, student cards, gym
memberships, bank cards, credit cards, etc.) carried by over 100
individuals. The images are presented on a 1:1 scale, which means that
all personal information contained on the cards is legible to gallery
visitors; however, participants are allowed to remove any cards that
they are uncomfortable with having on display (removed cards are simply
replaced with a black "withheld" placeholder card). Beyond being a
simple (and very reductive) portrait of the individual, the project
draws attention to the power and risks associated with these cards (and
ideally the databases behind the cards) and challenges the typical
notion of privacy—to keep things secret and hidden away—and instead
presents an idea of privacy that allows the individual to retain
control over what data is collected, how it is used and who is given
access.
Meet some other featured alumni.
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Data Collection is currently on display at the Agnes Etherington
Art Centre in Kingston as part of the Sorting Daemons: Art,
Surveillance Regimes and Social Control exhibition which runs January
16 - April 18, 2010
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