Waldprotokolle is a 22-channel sound installation about surveillance and privacy. The work was created in 2013 as a response to the NSA scandal: hidden microphones were installed along forest paths and clearings, recording conversations and sounds in a natural space supposedly free from observation.
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In response to the NSA scandal, Florian Mehnert had bugged paths and clearings in forests for days in 2013. His microphones installed there listened to passers-by. Sounds and conversations were recorded and processed into digital traces. After evaluating the data, the artist published extracts of the logs on his website.
Website of the published protocols, 2013
Radio SRF 2 Kultur, Schweiz, 10.01.2014: Florian Mehnert, Kunstaktion gegen den Abhörskandal
The invisible threat: Florian Mehnert bugs nature, the forest, the last retreat, where man feels undisturbed and unheard. There is no more unsurveilled place.
With his art project "Forestprotocols" Florian Mehnert points out the danger and absurdity of mass surveillance. By publishing the records, he makes the invisible surveillance visible and calls for reflection on monitoring. The FORESTPROTOCOLLS illustrate the hidden operating monitoring.
The publication of the FOREST PROTOCOLLS was followed by great media resonance. Florian Mehnert received a complaint according to § 201 of the German Public law (STGB) for violation of the confidentiality of the word. The public prosecutor's office investigated and applied the freedom of art.
Süddeutsche Zeitung, 13. November 2013, Reaktion auf NSA-Skandal, Künstler verwanzt Wald
DIE WELT, Auch im Wald da sind die Wanzen, 15. November 2013
Süddeutsche Zeitung, Wald verwanzt, 6. Dezember 2013
Badische Zeitung, Künstler verwanzt den Schwarzwald und wird angezeigt, 20. Dezember 2013
