Countersnap was a face recognition CCTV installation that subverted typical public surveillance practices. Instead of revealing or exposing the identities of passersby, the system digitally masked the faces of those captured when they paused in front of the CCEM aparador, the main window of the Centro Cultural de España en México. By doing so, Countersnap explored the tension between surveillance and privacy in public spaces, questioning how our identities are captured, displayed, and protected in an age of ubiquitous monitoring.

The installation created an interactive experience where the act of being watched was reversed, transforming the surveillance gaze into a playful yet critical intervention. Visitors encountered a digital mask that distorted their identity, offering a momentary escape from recognition while highlighting the power dynamics inherent in public observation. Through this, Countersnap invited reflection on the implications of surveillance technologies and how individuals can reclaim agency in monitored environments.

Special thanks to CCEMX