One of the most unpleasant 45 minutes of my life was spent on a Russian tram so crowded I could lift my feet and remain standing. I could feel the hacking cough of the woman next to me, her diaphragm convulsing, forcing up and speckling my hair with what I was convinced were tuberculosis-laden particles of phlegm. She struggled to cover her mouth, but her arms were pinned to her sides. Crowds are a natural consequence of city life, whether on the street, at the mall or on a bus. You could be meeting Archie and Jughead at the malt shop or practicing your salute in Nuremberg.
Crowds can empower, offer anonymity, isolate or support.
Some of the strongest works are videos that document, manipulate or just include hordes as part of the performance. As you linger on the images, however, the experience transforms into people-watching at its finest. The process becomes almost hypnotic. They seem to be presenting themselves for scrutiny when, in fact, nothing could be further from the truth. In true voyeuristic fashion, they are unaware of being watched.