CCTV by Jess Kim in Irvine

This silkscreen print, titled CCTV, is a thought-provoking composition that merges organic and mechanical elements to explore themes of surveillance, control, and societal observation. Central to the piece is a network of figures clustered beneath a towering apparatus, suggestive of a surveillance chandelier, with wires extending outward in all directions, connecting them to the surrounding technology. The figures, faceless and identical, hold cameras pointed at each other in a cyclical web of observation, capturing the essence of constant monitoring. The left side of the image is dominated by an array of screens, each displaying fragmented scenes, possibly of human activities or close-up imagery, conveying a sense of information overload. The stark black linework contrasts with abstract, washed splashes of violet that spill across the background, adding an ethereal quality and suggesting an ominous, pervasive energy. Below the machinery and screens, delicate yet thorny roses grow, symbolizing resilience, beauty, and perhaps the persistence of life amid cold, mechanical structures. The piece captures a haunting atmosphere, reflecting on how technology intertwines with and intrudes upon both nature and humanity in a never-ending cycle of observation and introspection.