Susan Hiller, Witness
As visitors enter ‘Witness’ whispering voices can be heard coming out of hundreds of suspended speakers. Gallery visitors wander around the space holding the speakers to their ears, listening to fragments of people’s stories, whether fictional or real life encounters of the third kind. ’
Susan Hiller quote: 'I wanted to make a work that would be seductive and beautiful so that even if you’re a non-believer in these kinds of experiences you somehow have an experience yourself that makes you a little more sympathetic. And at the same time put you in this position (which I feel I’m in myself), of true ambivalence. I believe these people are telling the truth, but I don’t believe that they saw what they describe.’
I feel that this work is about an experience and i think the intimate installation between listener and speaker creates something for the viewer to explore in any way they want to, it doesn't force the viewer to think or feel a certain way by telling them that the stories are real or spoof.
