Tiff Oben - Following Situation 2

Participant Victim 1

Participants Via Live Feed Email

26.2.13

09.45 – 11.05

 

Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 8:01

Subject: Following Situation 2

 

This is the day I aim to wait for male victim/s as they exit the subterranean car park into the main shopping centre of the city. It is an attempt to reverse the gendered predatory nature of much of the genealogy of such observational works. But I am worried. I feel very uncomfortable about the whole situation. I will, of course, make myself do it, force myself to undertake the situation, but I am filled with fear of consequences. What if I am too obvious? What if I am confronted, should I deny everything, look disdainful at the affront, confess? What if my random selection becomes a wrong time wrong place situation? What if I give an impression and receive unwanted advances? I have not told my partner, partly because I feel uneasy about locating myself in this genealogy, partly because he lacks sympathy with such works and this project as a whole, mostly because I am putting myself into a situation that he rightly would not like, that would make him fearful for my safety ...

 

Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 9:45

Subject: Following Situation 2

 

Drinking coffee. Preparing myself. Looked in the mirror. Look tired. Strained. Puffy eyed. There is an edge about me. Feeling nervous. Want to get started but coffee first...

 

Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 10:01

Subject: Following Situation 2

 

I'm leaving the coffee shop to go stand in my decided position, to wait for my mark, I wonder who and what they will be ...

 

Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 10:04

Subject: Following Situation 2

 

I'm nervous. My heart is beating fast...

 

Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 10:08

Subject: Following Situation 2

 

I'm standing in position by the lifts from the car park. I am waiting for someone in particular but I don't yet know who. They must be middle aged, male, alone, well to do, or look that way. The first individual fitting that vague description will be my victim. My hands are shaking as I type this into my phone...

 

Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 10:14

Subject: Following Situation 2

 

I wonder how long I will wait. The lifts seem dead. Few are arriving and those that do contain females or groups. A mother and her baby, a man and an elderly woman, a red haired family with teenage boys, a middle aged couple ... I am impatient to start. I want to get going. I want to fall into the mundane and banal rhythm of my unknown victim's day ...

 

Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 10:15

Subject: Following Situation 2

 

The perfect victim. Going back to the car park!

 

Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 10:26

Subject: Following Situation 2

 

He's here. I'm off.

 

Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 10:36

Subject: Following Situation 2

 

He is 6 foot. Short grey hair, beard of same colour. Green top, beige trousers, small backpack black and grey. Aged 65? Picking up random objects in Scandic hardware store. Plastic glass, batteries, notice board, note books, shelf brackets, lighting, now in power tool section, sanders, drills, mitre saw, shelf brackets again... I walk ahead. I am feeling paranoid I am too obvious!

 

Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 10:42

Subject: Following Situation 2

 

He has selected something to buy. I will queue after him. He is wearing a white jumper. Holds glasses in his hand.

 

Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 10:48

Subject: Following Situation 2

 

Does he suspect? I queued behind him. He left his ipod dock on the counter and walked off. I asked the assistant what had happened. She said he had gone to look at plastic ponchos and said he would come back. As I left he returned to pay for the items he had left. I am waiting outside for him to leave the shop. There he goes. Here I go... An electrical shop next.

 

Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 10:49

Subject: Following Situation 2

 

He is trying out cameras. I am keeping my distance.

 

Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 10:49

Subject: Following Situation 2

 

Up the escalators we go...

 

Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 10:52

Subject: Following Situation 2

 

Into the xxxxx xxxx. Looking at xxxxx. Glasses on. Glasses off. Glasses on to check out machines.

 

Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 10:59

Subject: Following Situation 2

 

Following at a distance. Must speed up so I don't lose him.

 

Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 11:05

Subject: Following Situation 2

 

He left the situation vicinty. It's over. Begin again. Same waiting location. Same rules of play. Will text details this time...

 

 

 

Participant Victim 2

Participants Via Live Feed Texts

26.2.13

11.34 – 13.35

 

Much of my work such as Chav at First Sight (2010-2012) is about passing judgements, making assumptions about one another. Usually by the viewer against the performer, but now that is reversed as the performer passes judgement on the unwitting participant (who is linked to the viewer).  This is in fitting with my objective to reverse the gaze back upon the viewer.

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 11:34

 

I'm waiting at a pre-specified point of contact for a participant to pass me by. They will be randomly selected by their adherence to four identifying descriptions: male, middle-aged, well-dressed and alone. I will follow them as they travel from the subterranean car park beneath the city's main shopping centre and move around the situation vicinity. You are also a participant in this work as I involve you through the following texts. My updates will keep you abreast of the narrative as it unfolds...

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 11:36

 

Following Situation 2 an attempt to reverse the gendered predatory nature of much of the genealogy of such observational works. But I am worried. I feel very uncomfortable about the whole situation. I will, of course, make myself do it, force myself to undertake the situation, but I am filled with fear of consequences. What if I am too obvious? What if I am confronted, should I deny everything, look disdainful at the affront, confess? What if my random selection becomes a wrong time wrong place situation? What if I give an impression and receive unwanted advances? I have not told my partner, partly because I feel uneasy about locating myself in this genealogy, partly because he lacks sympathy with such works and this project as a whole, mostly because I am putting myself into a situation that he rightly would not like, that would make him fearful for my safety ...

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 11:40

 

I'm nervous. My heart is beating fast. I don't know how long I will have to wait. I wonder who he will be. I am filled with nervous anticipation...

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 12:17

 

I wait an age. Everyone who passes does not fit the bill.

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 12:24

 

I'm about ready to give up. No one fits the bill, couples, families, groups, mums and babies all pass me by. I wonder if men even shop. Defining a work with such strict parameters works against me...

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 12:25

 

At last. The perfect participant. I'm going...

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 12:27

 

He's sauntering. This is an apt word for how he moves about the shopping centre. Gadget shop first. Watches. He looks at watches. I watch him. Direct eye contact. I look down engrossed in my phone.

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 12:29

 

Grey black baseball cap. Short mousy hair. Grey fleece. Light jeans. Trainers. Dressed younger than his age. I'd say late 30s. 5' 10 or 11. Slim build. He’s going up the escalator. I follow...

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 12:30

 

Heading for xxxxxxxxxx. Walking so slowly it is hard to follow at this pace.

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 12:31

 

Down the escalators now. A strange path to follow, up and down almost immediately. Is he aware of me already? Is he testing whether I am following? A kind of doubling back?

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 12:33

 

He walks by. Directly in front of me. I remain with my eyes to my phone.

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 12:34

 

He definitely seems to be circling the shop. Upstairs again! Up the escalators.  This is unnerving. He must know!

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 12:38

 

I take great interest in bags as he browses watches. I want him to realize and confront me but am terrified he will. Up more escalators, up again to the top floor... 

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 12:39

 

I've lost him. I'm going in search.

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 12:45

 

Found him! Relief. Thought it was all over. he was back at the watches. I will stick close to him this time. We are leaving the shop. I think my paranoia was just that, paranoia... 

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 12:46

 

I'm a metre behind him. Staying close. Matching his pace. Copying his footfall.

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 12:46

 

Is it too obvious? Am I too obvious?

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 12:49

 

I am enjoying this close proximity. This mirroring of pace and direction. He seems agitated. Hesitating momentarily, looking left and right, but moving on, walking on, not yet turning to see who it is directly behind...

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 12:50

 

We are in a coffee shop. I am directly behind him in the queue. I buy whatever he buys. I will sit opposite him and watch as he eats and drinks.

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 12:51

 

A black coffee and a lemon cake. A strange combination.

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 12:53

 

I ask for the same. £4.25. I am sat opposite. He plays with his phone. I am mirroring him.

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 13:02

 

I wonder how he can enjoy this cake and coffee. It tastes rank. I watch him engrossed in his phone. I have become bold sitting here, watching him openly. He is oblivious.

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 13:27

 

He is up and leaving. I leave also. My coffee and cake hardly touched. We are back out into the main arena. He is walking fast now. Straight into a card shop. He browses wrapping paper, paper bags...

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 13:33

 

With little ceremony he has chosen a card, oriental in design, so quickly selected I did not even see him pick it up. And a gift bag. Tacky, blue, grey and yellow flowers. He pulls out a ceramic bowl wrapped in bubble wrap to see if it fits into the bag. A gift with little thought. His purchases cost £3.

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 13:34

 

He has left the shop and is sat on a bench. I will walk behind him so I can see what he does without being observed. The bowl into the gift bag. The gift bag into another bag. Scarf blue and red stripped, jumper green, computer lead all go back into the bag. He stands and turns and walks away. I am disappointed he did not write the card. I wanted to know who was to receive this gift. He is striding off. I am striding too to catch up.

 

------ SMS ------

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07815xxxxxx

To: 07964xxxxxx

Sent: 26 Feb 2013 13:35

 

He is leaving the situation vicinity. It is over.