Through the Opera Glass

2022

We obsessively count and measure in order to better understand the world. This digital existence is in a way a primitive life, which was established by counting with our fingers. Daily life continues to shape itself within a digital framework. Over time, we have made more tools that make us see the world in a data-centric way, changing how we use our instincts and experiences to understand reality. Through the Opera Glass, a title referencing the first birdwatchers’ guide, symbolizes a shift from traditional observation to modern data collection methods. The collection of photographs, data visualizations, and found footage, visually explore ways in which birds can be translated into data and used as a source of information. The bird, a symbol of freedom, and its observer represent a larger story; the paradoxical interconnection between technology and nature, where the boundaries between observing, monitoring, and voyeurism are blurred. The project follows different stages in the lifecycle of birds, from breeding to death, including their immortalization as stuffed animals. Subjects of the images include bird species collection, behavioral research, webcam and GPS tracking, and genomics-based breeding. In the installation, a live printer outputs real-time information of spotted birds—coordinates, species, spotter details, and often a small anecdote.

Now Show, Graduation Show St Joost, 2022

Stijn Terpstra

Stijn Terpstra