Veiling Identities

https://www.neme.org/blog/veiling-identities-press

Resisting Recognition

Visit this project's documentation.

At 7 p.m., on 9 January 2026, we invite you to the opening of the exhibition Veiling Identities: Resisting Recognition.

The pseudo sciences of anthropometric unique identifiers (AUI), commonly known as biometric identifiers, are deeply rooted in the 18th and 19th century eugenics movement, physiognomy, and later phrenology which were developed to racialise humanity, maintain slavery, and subjugate people in the colonies, or in prison. Physiognomy falsely assumed that the person’s character or personality could be derived from their outer appearance—especially the face. Phrenology considered that the shape of the skull was a reflection of the brain and that it could be studied to predict behaviours such as an inclination towards marriage, poetry and kindness, or also theft and crime. The eugenics movement was a set of beliefs and practices that aim to “improve” the genetic quality of a human population. All advocated selective breeding to “enhance” the human race. These beliefs were eventually adopted by the Nazis and resulted in the holocaust but also in the many racist issues we are plagued with today. Other techniques currently used for identification are iris recognition, facial recognition, finger-printing, and DNA. It is interesting to note that none of the anthropometric unique identifier techniques have been scientifically proven that they actually produce unique results.

Veiling Identities: Resisting Recognition is a project focusing on the critical techniques used by artists fighting against the digitally powered panopticon built by state and/or corporate actors. It aims to investigate how artists ethically weaponise their knowledge and imaginations to fight against potentially repressive consumer technologies.

The aim of the exhibition is to reveal, through new and intermedia techniques used by artists, the efforts to ban biometric technologies in the EU, particularly facial recognition.

On Saturday 10 January 2026 at 7 p.m. there will be a seminar where Sophie Kahn, Aisling Phelan, and Paul Vanouse will explore imaging, identity, and science, and challenge our notions of the accuracy of biometric identifiers.

Credits

Curator: Yiannis Colakides
Coordinator: Helene Black
Artists: Francis Hunger, Sophie Kahn, Aisling Phelan, Paul Vanouse

Venue

NeMe Arts Centre, Corner of Ellados and Enoseos streets, 3041 Limassol, Cyprus

Programme

Opening: Friday, 9 January 2026, 19:00-21:00.
Seminar: Saturday, 10 January 2026, 19:00.
Exhibition Duration: 9 January – 6 February 2026.
- Exhibition Opening days/times: Tuesday-Friday, 17:30-20:30.

Funding

This project has been partially funded by the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Culture. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Cyprus Deputy Ministry cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.