MY FELLOW PRESIDENTS:

"My Fellow Presidents:" explores the latent narratives embedded within the presidential monuments in the U.S. These colossal structures, once vibrant symbols of leadership and authority, now stand as forgotten relics, enduring the relentless progression of time and the elements. Using infrared camera technology, I capture the unseen thermal fluctuations of these statues, exposing their silent, spectral vigils. This technique not only highlights their physical deterioration but also symbolically subjects these erstwhile icons of power to a novel form of surveillance.

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The use of infrared imagery serves a dual purpose: it visualizes the statues' physical decay while metaphorically reflecting the intense political scrutiny these figures once withstood and, in a broader sense, continue to endure. Positioned as figures of public authority, they remain under relentless societal examination, their legacies constantly measured against their historical promises and actions.

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This visual exploration also comes with a performative act involving the mailing of handmade postal stamps that bear the infrared images of each statue. Accompanying each stamp is a printed inaugural speech of the president it represents, addressed to the system that elected them. These stamps, while not valid for actual postage, are intended to be returned, symbolizing the perpetual cycle of political promises and the scrutiny they attract—highlighting an ongoing dialogue between the people and their leaders that encapsulates the unending cycle of expectation and accountability.

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Through this project, I aim to engage viewers in a dialogue about the role of surveillance in our society. This initiative underscores the concept that surveillance extends beyond the watchful eyes of the state; it encompasses the vigilant gaze of the electorate, continuously monitoring the temperature of political discourse and leadership. This project serves as a poignant reminder that in a democratic society, surveillance is not merely a top-down mechanism but also a dynamic process of civic engagement, wherein elected officials are persistently held accountable by the public's right to observe, judge, and react.