I’ve Been Watching You

I’ve Been Watching You is a monumental installation by media artist Geert Mul, realized in 2006 in Tilburg. The work consists of a photo wall nearly 240 meters long and 1.5 meters high, placed along the Spoorlaan, right next to the Central Station. Commissioned by the Municipality of Tilburg as part of the Public Art Plan, Mul used imagery captured by surveillance cameras throughout the city center.

Under the strict condition set by the mayor that individuals could not be recognizable, Mul collected the surveillance footage into a database. Using custom-developed software by Carlo Prelz, the images were selected, processed, and composed into a continuous visual installation. The photographs depict citizens of Tilburg moving unknowingly through public space, allowing Mul to poetically explore the themes of surveillance and privacy.

The choice of location was deliberate: the work was installed in an area previously perceived as unsafe. With I’ve Been Watching You, Mul not only draws attention to the feeling of constant observation but also contributes to a renewed perception of public space.

Production and project management were handled by Mothership.