John van der Woude @ Gallery 44

“Google Earth” til Nov. 28

Why do I find this image terrifying?

van der Woude’s airport photographs are composites of satellite images obtained from Google Earth.  There are anywhere from 700 to 1000 individual images used to create these images.  On display are six of the busiest airports in the world.

After taking in the sheer enormity of these spaces, the fact that the planes look miniature, and that you can barely make out any vehicles, there is still an incredible amount of detail, all readily available off the internet.

I don’t know about you, but in general, I am media desensitized.   I am so accustomed to hype that if a real crisis were to happen, I’d change the channel.  From my perspective, everything these days is a disaster or is made to seem like it and I just follow the stories that interest me or directly affect me.  There’s too much to worry about otherwise.  My only interest in airports has ever been to use and get out as soon possible.

Am I wrong to think that detailed satellite photographs of public transport hubs is information that is not necessary to be shared with anyone and everyone?   My airport experience won’t change by knowing what the airport looks like from above.  I still need to go through check in and customs interrogations and humiliations just like everybody else.  The only people who will have use for this information have official access to it or don’t.  At least that’s the way I’ve been taught to think in an age where terrorism is always in the back of our minds.

Is van der Woude for the censorship of Google, pillar of freedom of information — international security and copyright be damned — or it’s champion?  I expect he’s as confused as the rest of us.

(This is a joint exhibit by John van der Woude and Eryn Foster, but I somehow missed Foster’s work.  In retrospect, I realized it was tucked away around the corner, but I was unfortunately, pressed for time and didn’t get to see it.)