Published in January 2018 by Brave Books, Berlin in an edition of 1000 copies. Hard cover, case bound, 30 x 22cm, 192 pages colour on matt paper. The book includes satellite visuals of the territories the transmission stations are believed to be found. Along with the images there is an accompanying text with the story of the stations. The brilliant idea to incorporate spectrograms, making the messages visible, adds the artistic touch to the whole book, elevating it to another level of work. Shadows of the State examines the mysterious shortwave radio broadcasts of coded messages to undercover agents.
© Lewis Bush, still of the book 'Shadows of the State'
The images and the content of the book bring to mind the opening titles of the Coen brothers 2008 film Burn after Reading. All this flying information intended for selected ears only to be translated into information by trained individuals. When I think of spies and secret transmitting codes sent on specific hours I think of the flying information and wonder how is it possible to send it in the air and be able to express the act of talking through sound frequencies. We have certainly come a long way since the transmitting pigeons were used for such espionage practices!
This book is the visual equivalent of an academic research with spy content. The small anecdotes of all these stations provide the reader/viewer with an idea of the events, which have taken place mostly during the 20th century, and along with the satellite images and some street views, create a visual of certain areas where one can search all the details of the well hidden transmitter.
© Lewis Bush, still of the book 'Shadows of the State'
© Lewis Bush, still of the book 'Shadows of the State'
© Lewis Bush, still of the book 'Shadows of the State'
© Lewis Bush, still of the book 'Shadows of the State'
The artist is engaging with the reader by inviting him to a game of search and wondering on these satellite images. This idea brings the spectator closer to the story creating a feeling of floating over areas, where highly classified information is also floating by his/her side!
The text accompanying the images provide the name of transmitter and a scannable bar code on the bottom of the left page contains all the information one can download or see online about the history, the use, etc of the transmitter. On the right page one can find the text of the station itself. Some information given takes the reader/viewer to a personal wondering journey. For example some of the stations marked the beginning of the transmission by using female voices, or songs. A fascinating fact which leaves you imagining the where, what, who, why and how all of these actions have been orchestrated by…no one knows.
© Lewis Bush, still of the book 'Shadows of the State'
© Lewis Bush, still of the book 'Shadows of the State'
© Lewis Bush, still of the book 'Shadows of the State'
The book is about the power of knowledge. It is about reversing the practices and the technology of espionage back to the people who actually use them. Bush aims in shedding some light to a world which is hidden and secretive. One can not overlook the difficulties of exploring such a topic, where all is fluid; and let us not forget the thin barriers of sanity and paranoia which can easily be crossed by people who can never confirm what they know or have found out!
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