Lausanne-Switzerland, 2024
This work is a collection of three books, featuring images from discussions on various second-hand sales websites using a specific protocol: sending a message to sellers to receive an image in return.
The first book, «CAMERA,» explores purchasing cameras. The message sent was: «Hello, could you please send me a photo of the screen displaying an image? Thank you!» This book examines how individuals handle cameras, focusing on the sellers’ hands to create a catalog. It delves into the power dynamics associated with photography, likening the camera to a photographic weapon.
The second book, «MIRROR,» concerns purchasing mirrors. The message sent was: «Hello, could you please send me an image showing the condition of the mirror? Thank you in advance.» This volume adopts a sociological approach. The mirror’s reflection often forces individuals to photograph themselves or their space, leading to avoidance strategies. Moving to more expensive mirror listings, the book observes if these strategies vary by social classe, with stronger emotional content and dilemmas revealed.
The third book, «WEBCAM,» involves selling laptops, focusing on webcam functionality. Since the webcam is a minor aspect, interactions became more complex and often aggressive. This book highlights these exchanges, focusing on relational dynamics and manipulation. The interactions reveal confusion, frustration, and sometimes insults. The relationship between text exchanges and their translation into images is explored, with text becoming an image and witness.
This work is a collection of three books, featuring images from discussions on various second-hand sales websites using a specific protocol: sending a message to sellers to receive an image in return.
The first book, «CAMERA,» explores purchasing cameras. The message sent was: «Hello, could you please send me a photo of the screen displaying an image? Thank you!» This book examines how individuals handle cameras, focusing on the sellers’ hands to create a catalog. It delves into the power dynamics associated with photography, likening the camera to a photographic weapon.
The second book, «MIRROR,» concerns purchasing mirrors. The message sent was: «Hello, could you please send me an image showing the condition of the mirror? Thank you in advance.» This volume adopts a sociological approach. The mirror’s reflection often forces individuals to photograph themselves or their space, leading to avoidance strategies. Moving to more expensive mirror listings, the book observes if these strategies vary by social classe, with stronger emotional content and dilemmas revealed.
The third book, «WEBCAM,» involves selling laptops, focusing on webcam functionality. Since the webcam is a minor aspect, interactions became more complex and often aggressive. This book highlights these exchanges, focusing on relational dynamics and manipulation. The interactions reveal confusion, frustration, and sometimes insults. The relationship between text exchanges and their translation into images is explored, with text becoming an image and witness.