The Mumbai-based collaborative studio CAMP is showcasing its innovative approach to storytelling through its first major U.S. exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The exhibition, titled Video After Video: The Critical Media of CAMP, runs until July 20, 2025, and features three video projects that span two decades of work.
CAMP has transformed traditional surveillance tools and television networks into community-driven devices. Their projects include repurposing private television sets for interactive neighborhood portrayals, collecting cellphone footage from sailors in the Indian Ocean, and reimagining the use of CCTV cameras for exploration rather than control.
One notable film, From Gulf to Gulf to Gulf, captures the lives of sailors navigating the Indian Ocean. The film incorporates cellphone videos shared among sailors via Bluetooth, showcasing their daily experiences and the unique culture of maritime life. Another project, Khirkeeyaan, connects community centers using CCTV, allowing neighbors to interact in new ways.
CAMP’s commitment to maintaining an open digital archive is evident in their efforts to preserve footage that often goes unseen. The studio’s online archive, Pad.ma, challenges traditional copyright laws and emphasizes the importance of accessing material that didn’t make it into final cuts.
Through these projects, CAMP highlights the potential of low-resolution images and the significance of what they refer to as ephemeral footage. Their work invites audiences to reconsider the relationship between technology, storytelling, and community engagement.
For more details, visit the original article on The Verge.