BLACK/WHITE/GREY

4K-video-installation, 16min, colour, stereo

Cast: Sandra Borgmann

Animation: Jonas Dahl

Score: Kamran Sadeghi

© 2020

Museum Folkwang, Essen, presents Mario Pfeifer’s new video installation Black/White/Grey.

The video installation BLACK/WHITE/GREY (2020) investigates the relationship between hacking as political tool and the energy producing  and distributing sector. During his research Pfeifer discussed different  scenarios and situations with digital forensics,  cyber-range instructors and in-the-field operators. Based on these  conversations and site visits Pfeifer scripted a monologue for the  German actress Sandra Borgmann to be performed in a virtual space that  looks into different global key examples of hacking into critical infrastructure such as electricity grid operators, power  plants, refineries or multinationals’ websites. While the performer  engages virtually with the audience on basic questions of data security,  a digital forensic and hacker shares details on paradigm changing hacking attacks commonly known as industroyer, stuxnet or trisis. BLACK/WHITE/GREY  points out that  such worm attacks indicate new territories of geopolitical conflict  fought in cyberspace. The artist raises the question if blackouts as a  form of strategic political attacks have become a realistic thread to societies and nations today.

Exhibitions

Museum Folkwang, Essen, GER | 2020

Pylon Lab, Dresden, GER | 2022