THE OBSERVATION ROOM
Humidicribs, cathode ray tubes, video, audio.
Dimensions variable.

THE OBSERVATION ROOM (2003)
Intersections: Sydney College of the Arts

Inspired by Hans Morovec’s book Mind Children, The Observation Room is an installation that explores the ethical implications of bio-medical research.

Entering the exhibition space, two infant incubators are visible in the dim flickering light. Scavenged from a dump bin outside a medical faculty, the incubators have been modified to incorporate cathode ray tubes in their aluminium bases.

Inside the incubators the image of a human eye undergoing surgery looks out at the viewer. A dark wavering line moves hypnotically across the surface of the screen. This line, the shadow of the artist's body caught on videotape, echoes the motion of a scanner converting analogue into digital information. As it moves across the screen this wavering line causes a wipe, peeling back one eye to reveal another.

The Observation Room was exhibited as part of the Intersections exhibition held at Sydney College of the Arts¹ during the Art, Health, and Design World Symposium.

1. SCA is located in the historic Kirkbride complex which was once home to patients of Callan Park Mental Hospital. Built in the early 1880's as a model institution for the insane, the hospital was finally closed following the damning Richmond report of 1983. The Richmond report exposed the appalling conditions at Callan Park which had steadily declined since the hospital's completion. During the 1940's and 50's patients were subjected to experimental treatments like electro-convulsive therapy and psychosurgery (leucotomies and lobotomies) as staff raced to stay abreast of new treatments developed overseas.