Mar 5 • 04:30 UTC 🇪🇸 Spain El País

The Dysfunction and Subjectivity of Civil Servants According to Photographer Tanit Plana

In 'Disfuncionàries,' Tanit Plana explores the complexities of bureaucracy through the lens of artificial intelligence, depicting how control and normalization shape our experiences.

In her work 'Disfuncionàries,' the Barcelona-based photographer Tanit Plana merges the realms of art and technology, utilizing artificial intelligence to critique the bureaucratic systems that govern public life. Plana's longstanding fascination with the invisible aspects of human relationships and societal structures is evident in her exploration of how bureaucracy can impose control and sameness on individual identities and experiences. She aims to reveal the underlying emotional and violent undercurrents that often go unnoticed in the monotonous processes of civil service.

Plana's artistic journey has evolved from attempts to capture the intangible essence of the internet to employing AI as a creative tool that not only reproduces images but also distorts the very patterns of control inherent in bureaucratic systems. She perceives AI as less of a 'seeing' device and more as an entity that reflects and amplifies the mechanisms of repetition and standardization, thus critiquing the status quo of civil service through a fresh, digital lens. This approach allows for a reconsideration of the relationships between humans and the systems they navigate.

Ultimately, Plana's work calls attention to the complexities and subjective experiences of civil servants, highlighting how their roles are shaped by societal expectations and technological influences. In an era where AI is increasingly embedded in various aspects of life, her exploration serves as a timely reminder of the need to acknowledge and understand the often-overlooked impacts of these systems on individual lives, especially within the public sector.

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