Shizuka Yokomizo takes pictures of strangers. But they know she's doing it. Her series "Stranger" shows people captured through their windows, voyeur-style. Some face the camera defiantly, arms crossed. Others stare out looking amused, or concerned. Yokomizo sends her subjects a special letter addressed "Dear Stranger," which says:"I would like to take a photograph of you standing in your front room. A camera will be set up outside the window in the street. If you do not mind being photographed please stand in your room and look at the camera through the window for 10 minutes. I will take your picture then leave."
If the subject doesn't wish to participate on the arranged date, they are to draw the curtains instead.
Here's an article from the BBC that tells a little more about the artist.
It's funny to imagine this as a project for sound. "Dear Stranger, we would like to record you in your apartment for one hour. A microphone will be placed in each of your rooms. If you do not wish to participate, don't say anything."
Hmm...too many CIA/Stasi implications, no? Perhaps it would be an interesting project to simply send the letter, and not do anything else...
