SUBCONSCIOUS MINING

22.5.2021
Public space often influences people’s subconscious with its commercial and subliminal enticements. Directing the consumer’s gaze, manipulating the atmosphere and presenting an abstract system of values through symbols and icons to identify with.

In order to map exactly how public space affects his decision-making processes, mood, feelings of safety or desire, Alban Karsten decides to mine his subconscious with the help of a hypnotherapist. Together they compile a list of 44 questions for his subconscious to answer, ranging from “Do you feel happy when you cross the street?”, to “Does public space belong more to you than to companies?”, and “Do you ever fantasize about vandalism when you are in public space?”.

Their session takes off by identifying the challenges and temptations to try to reflect the specific language of public space, ownership, emotions, and impressions. The hypnotist asks if there are things in specific places that need to be added, modified, or taken away. In this way the hypnotist tries to get the subconscious to come up with concrete ideas for interventions or works of art. This will result in a podcast, followed by a longoing series of public interventions, suggested by his subconscious while under hypnosis.