A Testimony of Birdwatching
2025
Commercial unmanned aerial vehicles—commonly known as drones, or ‘birdies’ as frontline soldiers call them—have reshaped how we perceive and interact with the world. You’ve likely come across countless travel blogs or architectural campaigns showcasing stunning bird’s-eye perspectives. But it’s just as likely you’ve encountered the flood of footage from ongoing wars, where these same flying cameras either survey the battlefield or pinpoint targets—and, when DIY-modified, kill.
Over the last decade, small commercial drones—heavily regulated for consumer use under national laws—have enabled remote-
controlled violence, transforming modern warfare and battlefield strategy. Yet, they remain in a grey area, lacking specific regulations governing their use in warfare.
In this project, the author examines the imagery produced by drones and the realities they depict, highlighting the dissonance between their dual uses by asking questions such as: How can a technology that captures breathtaking visuals also enable cheap, game-like killing? Can drones help operators and investigators reliably distinguish between military targets and civilians? Where do aesthetics and ethics collide within this double-edged lens?
Through visual experiments and performative engagement with found footage from ongoing wars, the project challenges the act of spectatorship, urging audiences to reflect on the regulation of contemporary warfare technology and its complex role in both art and society.
Over the last decade, small commercial drones—heavily regulated for consumer use under national laws—have enabled remote-
controlled violence, transforming modern warfare and battlefield strategy. Yet, they remain in a grey area, lacking specific regulations governing their use in warfare.
In this project, the author examines the imagery produced by drones and the realities they depict, highlighting the dissonance between their dual uses by asking questions such as: How can a technology that captures breathtaking visuals also enable cheap, game-like killing? Can drones help operators and investigators reliably distinguish between military targets and civilians? Where do aesthetics and ethics collide within this double-edged lens?
Through visual experiments and performative engagement with found footage from ongoing wars, the project challenges the act of spectatorship, urging audiences to reflect on the regulation of contemporary warfare technology and its complex role in both art and society.
Exhibition View
West Den Haag, 2025
