Echoes of Silence & Surveillance, a generative motion graphics artwork, created during my Creator in Residency role at Library and Archives Canada, draws on the Register of Chinese Immigrants to Canada (1886–1949). A dataset from a University of British Columbia (UBC) research project led by Professors Peter Ward and Henry Yu uses transcribed head tax records, exposing the systemic surveillance of Canada’s discriminatory immigration policies.
Randomised, ever-shifting visuals of flashing text cascade across the screen, evoking the anxiety of relentless bureaucratic oversight, juxtaposed with a digital wave symbolising oceans and hopeful opportunities. Echoes of train tracks weave through, honouring the transportation of Chinese people and their labour in building Canada’s railways. As the generative output never repeats, it reflects the fleeting, silenced voices of individuals, inviting viewers to reflect on their resilience amid oppressive systems. The dataset’s transcription may contain errors due to its meticulous process.
Software: Processing (https://processing.org)
Media References
S: 103 BPM Industrial Ambient Loop #13452 (WAV) by looplicator | License: Attribution 4.0
S: FX – Beep bomb countdown 3 by TILIADESIGN | License: Creative Commons 0
