Demo
This installation explores ‘astroturfing,’ the phenomenon of companies or governments that hire PR firms to stage fake demonstrations in public spaces that pass as real. These demonstrations aim to go viral on social media, thereby drawing attention to particular agendas.
The hired actors are not allowed to reveal that they are being paid for this apparent activism. For this installation, the artists hired the services of the public relations company Crowds on Demand. Demo explores how easily public perceptions can be manipulated in this age of social media, and how it is increasingly challenging to distinguish fact from fiction.
