New York New York, USA

Banksy, the world's foremost graffiti artist, still lives in the shadows of the pop-art underworld. Geographically Yours could not pass up a chance to see a curated collection of his art (unauthorized, 'vandalous,' photographic). In 2008, London's CCTV mural appeared and disappeared almost instantaneously. But, apparently, more than my photograph survives. [2022]

Brussels, Belgium

During the first 15 years of the Surveillance Era (post-1999), "big brother" felt obligated to let you know if you were being watched (post-1984, the book, not the year). Now, we all assume we are being both watched and recorded every time we step out of our private space and into public view. Amazingly, we don't seem to care! [2015]

Lisbon, Portugal

Winston Smith says: 'Just say NO' to everything that threatens privacy. We now have the technology to watch and record everything everywhere, and we can store all that information forever. It's time to read (or re-read) the most prescient book of the 20th century, Nineteen Eighty Four. [2009]

Bucharest, Romania

Why does everyone seem so satisfied with the omnipresence of surveillance? It might seem totally in the interest of security now, but they (not we!) are building a dystopian future that threatens privacy and freedom. And, now they want to extend that surveillance to our cell phones! Just say NO. [2014]

Hong Kong S.A.R., China

Bilingual signage is typical of Hong Kong. So is Closed-Circuit TV. The pictogram in the middle might as well be the logo of the urban world in which we live. Anyone want to move back to the country? [2011]

Zagreb, Croatia

The 'checky shield' makes the Croatian national flag unique, but, by juxtaposing so many opposites, Zagreb's flag tells a more intricate story. Do you see the heavens and the earth? the realm of nature and the realm of culture? the open and the closed? the invitation and the threat? the medieval and the post-Communist? Now find CCTV and mirror. [2008]

New York, New York, USA

As you head for a Subway exit at Chambers Street, all eyes are upon you. The station was rebuilt after 9-11, and 'Oculus' appeared. To stand as symbols of the city's multicultural character, the mosaics were modeled after eyes of real New Yorkers from around the world. The subtext? Remember:  you are being watched. [2005]

Granby, Quebec, Canada

Jane Jacobs told us that "eyes upon the street" make for safe neighborhoods. She meant human eyes, but we have come to favor robotic eyes. You see no surveillance cameras here in Granby, but you are reminded that real citizens' eyes (unseen eyes behind dark glasses?) monitor all that we do. Broader interpretation: 'Big Brother is watching.' [2009]

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Safety First! Safety through surveillance cameras. But that's such an unsavory epithet. Let's call them 'street safety' cameras instead. Who could object to that, particularly in a tourist precinct like The Rocks? Do you find this a comforting sign (complete with Sydney's perky signature) or a mask for what is becoming the surveillance century? [2006]

Jerusalem, Israel

This is how the millennium began in Jerusalem. Video cameras were installed all over the old city to both deter crime and identify anyone involved in reprehensible conduct. Since then, the Israeli tech sector has become a world leader in CCTV technology, recently marrying it to wireless transmission. [2000]

London, England, UK

Who painted that? Banksy. London, one of the most heavily surveilled cities in the world, woke up one morning and there it was. Banksy had eluded detection even though he was on Royal Mail property. Do you see the camera that should have caught him in the act? Everyone in London is now on candid camera, but not everyone thinks it's funny. [2008]

THE BACKSTORY ~ Posted on the 10^th Anniversary of Geographically Yours, 4 August 2020: Cities are in a process of perpetual transformation. But sometimes the transformations are ephemeral, as was this mural and its message: “One Nation Under CCTV.” My camera and I were pounding the pavements of central London. Almost reflexively, I took this picture. I continued on my walk and then circled back to take a second look. What was this all about? The property was a Royal Mail (government) lot, on whose edge was painted a meme critical of the government; it was right under the watchful eye of the technology it was criticizing: a surveillance camera! Was this really government sanctioned? What I knew at the time was that London was fast becoming the world’s most surveilled city; there were cameras mounted everywhere, and, of course, not everyone approved. What I didn’t know is that the mural had been painted in a single night and was removed after about a week. How did I learn this? From the Internet after I got home. It was the work of Banksy, maybe the world’s most famous graffiti artist, whose identity is a closely kept secret. Look, he painted himself on a ladder painting the slogan. Royal Mail did not like Banksy’s mockery, and they made it go away quickly. In my own mind, though, I envision an anthropologist of the future scraping off centuries of paint and finding the muralist’s 21^st-century critique of his home city. Now, however, more than two decades into the 21^st century, we don’t even debate CCTV; we just accept it. Banksy, where are you? D.J.Z.

Lucerne, Switzerland

Make a scarce resource less scarce and you will command the loyalties of the people. Bring a necessity of life close to home and people will say thank you. Take the ordinary and dress it up, and everyone will feel good about the place where they live. On the other hand, just count the eyes that are watching as you go about your daily routines. [1984]