Christy Westhovens

Our environment is not only composed of physical structures, such as buildings, roads and trees, but also of countless invisible data streams from our cell phones, earbuds, electric bikes and smart home appliances. Each place has its own digital texture, a rhythmic noise of wireless communication.

Who designs these networks? How exactly do they work and why do they work the way they do? How do they influence our movements, choices and freedoms? And how can we take back control, not just as users, but as builders of the technological landscape? To understand how these systems work, we must first make them visible.

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Listeners [2025] is a critical exploration of the invisible digital infrastructure that shapes our cities. Through a custom measuring device, participants engage with the electromagnetic signals emitted by Bluetooth-enabled objects. These signals, from everyday devices like smart fridges, phones, and wearables, are caught and shown, revealing the hidden layers that shape our movements, interactions, and freedoms. As the audience explores, the collected data is displayed on a map that will slowly grow over the time of the exhibition.