On
Saturday the 28th April 2007, Accidental Collective
presented their first large scale public event
in and around Canterbury city centre. For
a total of 7 hours, the company used as venues
a variety of shop windows and cafes. Through
this project Accidental Collective aimed to
expose the general public (shoppers, tourists,
and passers by) to a type of work they may
not usually encounter. Each individual encountered
the project in a different way, depending
on his or her own route through the city.
Originally
focused on surveillance, The Watching Game broadened its focus to include wider issues
relating to watching and being watched: Inside
and outside; private and public; observer
and observed; the public becoming performers;
performers and becoming spectators. What are
you watching? Why do you keep watching? Who
is watching who? Who is watching the watchers?
Who is watching you?
The
Watching Game was funded by Kent County Council
through the Arts Investment Programme.
Below
are some comments made by some of the spectators:
“…
it definitely makes you question all the moments
in your life that may or may not being watched.
The reaction in the street was also very amusing,
considering the amount of interest a woman
sitting in a shop window attracted, someone
literally walked into me…”
Ozaan Enkan, USA
“…
it makes people smile! That has to be a good
thing!”
Debbie, Revivals shop owner
“It
was also great to see the different expressions
on passers by.”
Ann Stevenson, Canterbury
“Unusual!
Eye catching!” Paul
Smith, Canterbury
“Great.
Extremely entertaining.” Ben
Jones, Canterbury
