The Exhibitionist Observer series began in 2017 as a response to the rise of surveillance culture and social media narcissism. The first nine versions were interactive installations where the "Exhibitionist" (a performer or user) exposed a curated vulnerability to an "Observer" (the audience or AI), only to have the power dynamics reverse mid-experience.
But what is it? Is it a piece of software? A live-performance architecture? A psychological experiment? The answer, as with everything Colette touches, is: The Genesis of the Gaze: Understanding the Series To understand Version 10, one must first understand the philosophy of Colette Studio. Founded by the reclusive creative director known only as "Colette," the studio’s manifesto is built on a single, provocative axiom: To be seen is to exist; to observe is to dominate.
At a recent private viewing at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, a peculiar event occurred that has since become viral lore. A viewer stood in front of the v10 Colette Studio piece for 47 minutes. As he observed the AI exhibitionist, his own reflection began to decay digitally—pixels falling away like autumn leaves. He reportedly whispered, "I am the exhibitionist now," and walked away in tears.