Concept

OUTSIDE | IN takes inspiration from the architectural concept of the panopticon, conceived by the philosopher Jeremy Bentham — a prison design that allows a single supervisor to observe all inmates without the latter knowing if they are being watched by an actual person. If we extend the concept of the panopticon to the society in which we currently live, we see that constant surveillance through social media, personalized algorithms, and data tracking, influence and shape our behaviour.

The advent of this panoptic society integrates the omnipresent look of control that monitors and therefore limits thoughts and behaviors. The omnipresent gaze is then internalized, resulting in the gradual loss of freedom. This relationship between the exterior and the interior inspired the choice of title, and forms the conceptual core of OUTSIDE | IN.