Hidden in View: Steganography's Role in Art and Digital Media
Hidden in View: Steganography's Role in Art and Digital Media
From Ink to Pixels. The Evolution of Concealed Communications
I’m currently helping a friend to set up a brand and some marketing structure for his D&D module business and I think, as a result, this memory came back to me as a gift from the muses, as I was researching some mythologies and fantasy books.
When I was young, a long, long, long time ago, in a country now far, far away, a friend of mine had a puzzle that no one in his family had managed to resolve.
It was a box with multiple polygons on it. It looked like something from outer space, something that only an ancient/alien civilisation with vast knowledge about cryptography, technology and craft could have created. It was baffling and exciting and to the eye of a teenager who was devouring Stephen King, Lovecraft, Tolkien, Louise Cooper and other fantasy authors, this box/artifact/mystery was the stuff dreams are made of.
I remember we tried, over and over again, to open the box using different tactics and strategies - one of them involved a few mild explosives, enough to make the resort blow up without blowing up the box itself, or so we thought. As you can imagine, this didn’t work, and the box was, of course, mildly damaged. It was an exhilarating summer where, at any given opportunity, we will be trying to solve this mystery without any success.
My friend always claimed that once opened the box, it would reveal a clue to a hidden set of gold lost in the civil war in Spain as a relative in his family had been fighting against Franco’s troops back then, and when he knew the Republican fighters were losing the war, his relative decided to put the first clue to access his family wealth so the fascists would never have access to it.
I think it is timely to mention that at the time (I must have been 12-13 years old), my friends and I were a selected group of kids - what was considered then “nerds” - learning to play D&D and other RPG games. So clearly, his imagination had been pumped by some specific narratives, fueled by his father, contained in the literature we were exposed to, and the rest of us were more than willing to believe and co-create the myth.
I also remember that after one of the history classes and having covered the myth of Pandora’s box, we also considered the possibility that the box contained a curse of some sort that could impact our lives forever.
Alas, a long time after this glorious summer of speculation - I’m talking years after - we discovered my friend’s father knew, from the very beginning, how to open the box and had convinced my friend of the opposite, creating the narrative I mentioned earlier in this post. The box was nothing
When he was told, my friend was raging, and we were (incredibly) disappointed, but when I look back, I remember not the disappointment per se but rather a summer of joy, comedy and mystery.
I genuinely felt that we were the new Goonies.
It’s like this memory was a puzzle within my brain, unlocked only at the right moment. Inspired by the resurgence of that memory, I decided that in this week's post, I would explore the intersection of cryptography, steganography, and art, with a particular emphasis on digital art
What is Steganography
Steganography is the practice of concealing a message within another object, such that the message is not perceptible to the unsuspecting observer.
Essentially, it involves embedding information within another medium in a way that hides the existence of the message itself. For example, a hidden message could be encoded within the pixels of an image or the notes of a music file, remaining undetectable to those unaware of its presence.
This technique allows for secure communication, as it not only protects the contents of a message but also conceals the fact that a message is being sent at all.
Steganography in History, A Hidden Tattoo and a Wax tablet
The earliest documented instances of steganography date back to ancient Greece around 440 BC, as recounted by Herodotus in his Histories.
In one instance, Histiaeus sent a secret message to incite a revolt against Persian rule by tattooing it on the shaved head of a slave. Once the slave's hair grew back, the message was concealed.
The slave was then sent to Histiaeus's son-in-law, who was instructed to shave the slave's head again to reveal the message. This method allowed Histiaeus to communicate covertly, illustrating an early and creative use of steganography.
In another example, Demaratus, a former king of Sparta, played a significant role in utilizing steganography during the Persian invasion of Greece led by Xerxes I in 480 BC. Demaratus, after being deposed and exiled from Sparta, found himself in the Persian Empire. Despite his exile, he maintained his loyalty to Greece and, recognizing the impending threat from Xerxes' massive military buildup, decided to warn the Spartans of the planned invasion.
To do this without the message being intercepted by Persian authorities, Demaratus employed a clever method of steganography. He scraped the wax off a pair of wooden tablets, wrote the warning on the wood underneath, and then covered the tablets with wax again. This made the tablets appear blank and unsuspecting, allowing them to pass through Persian security without arousing suspicion.
The message was eventually decoded in Sparta, providing the Greeks with crucial advance notice of the invasion. This act of sending a secret warning helped prepare the Greek states for the conflict that would culminate in the famous Battle of Thermopylae among others.
Olia Lialina - My Boyfriend Came Back from the War
Olia Lialina, a Moscow-born artist, stands as a pioneering figure in the realm of net art and is celebrated for her innovative work as an animated GIF model. She co-founded the Geocities Research Institute and is the custodian of the One Terabyte of Kilobyte Age Archive, dedicating her career to exploring the intersections of New Media, Digital Folklore, Vernacular Web, and Human-Computer Interaction. Lialina holds a professorship in new media, art, and design at the Merz Akademie in Stuttgart, where she imparts her extensive knowledge and passion for digital creativity.
Among her most acclaimed works is "My Boyfriend Came Back from the War," created in 1996(!). This artwork stands as an early and influential example of net art, weaving themes of personal relationships, the aftermath of war, and the intricacies of communication into a fragmented, nonlinear narrative.
Presented via a web page, the artwork integrates black-and-white imagery, hyperlinked text, and dynamic GIF animations. This interactive format invites users to engage directly with the unfolding story of a woman and her returning soldier boyfriend, delving into the emotional turmoil, misunderstandings, and the complex process of reconnection following the ravages of war.
Lialina's work is notable for its pioneering use of the internet as a canvas for artistic expression, marking a significant moment in the evolution of digital art.
"My Boyfriend Came Back from the War" has been extensively analyzed within the annals of digital art history, highlighting its role in showcasing the web's potential for storytelling beyond conventional linear narratives. This piece challenges viewers to actively participate in the narrative journey, embodying the transformative power of the internet in enriching the storytelling experience.
I can’t recommend visiting Olia’s website enough; it is a joy and a constant discovery of treasures.
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer - Method Random
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is a media artist born in Mexico City in 1967. He blends architecture and performance art, creating interactive installations that invite public participation through the use of technology like robotic lights and digital fountains. Inspired by phantasmagoria and carnival, his works serve as "antimonuments," exploring themes of alien agency. He made history as the first artist to represent Mexico at the Venice Biennale in 2007 and has participated in numerous other biennials globally.
“Method Random," a series of chromogenic prints created using computational methods to generate randomness. The prints are based on random number generators (RNG) algorithms, essential for various applications like encryption, security, simulation, and more. While the sum of colors picked by different RNG algorithms results in a neutral gray, patterns emerge when viewing a massive number of pixels simultaneously.
The prints highlight the challenge computers face in appearing unpredictable to human perception. The series uses nine algorithms, each generating unique visual outcomes based on specific parameters and seeds.
My favourite project, although not necessarily linked to Steganography is "Pulse Corniche" (Relational Architecture 22) an awe-inspiring installation set against the backdrop of Abu Dhabi's Corniche, featuring a canopy of robotic searchlights that projected powerful beams into the sky.
These lights, whose intensity and movement were determined by the heart rates of participants, created a dynamic display of luminosity and motion.
Visitors engaged with the installation by gripping a sensor located in the plaza's center, which translated the electrical activity of their hearts into distinctive lighting patterns.
This unique interaction allowed for the visualization of each individual's biometric rhythms on an urban canvas, momentarily morphing the public space into an ephemeral construct of light and motion. In the absence of active participants, the installation would display the heartbeats of the last five users, ensuring the space remained animated and alive.
If you have a few minutes to spare, I would encourage you to explore Rafael’s extensive body of work.
Amy Suo Wu - Invisible Messages.
Amy Suo Wu , born in Shantou and raised in Western Sydney, now works in Rotterdam as an artist, designer, and educator. Her recent work explores mending, design as remittance, and the intertwining of text and textile into embodied publishing.
Collaborating with her mother, Maria Ling Qing Huang, they research intergenerational mending under the "Serenity Department."
Wu's past work focused on steganography for protection and resistance, leading to the publication "A Cookbook of Invisible Writing." She's contributed to Rotterdam's Zine Camp, taught at various institutions, and currently focuses on Cultural Diversity at Willem de Kooning Academy.
One of my favourite projects is "Greetings from the Invisible Borderlands”, a project that explores analogue steganography mixing old secret writing tricks with today's internet privacy concerns.
It brings back a 400-year-old method called the Cardan grille, making it cool again for sending hidden messages. People get a postcard with special patterns that help them find hidden messages on Google Maps. It's like a treasure hunt that uses both the old-school charm of getting mail and the modern convenience of the internet.
This idea is all about keeping messages private in a fun way, taking a little inspiration from the worlds of traditional mail art and internet art. It got some attention and praise, being up for a privacy-focused award in 2016 and featured in a solo art show in Ljubljana in 2017.
This technique raises questions about the nature of communication and secrecy in the digital age.
By hiding messages in plain sight, Wu challenges us to consider how information is conveyed and how easily it can be overlooked.
Barbara Kruger - Your Body is a Battleground
Barbara Kruger, a Newark-born artist and designer, gained prominence for her visually striking work featuring found photographs overlaid with provocative text on power and identity, critiquing consumerism and societal norms. Formerly a head designer at Condé Nast, her art has been featured globally, including public installations.
Kruger’s work often uses bold text and imagery with underlying social and political messages. The messages are frequently presented in a way that is both confrontational and thought-provoking.
Some speculate she might embed hidden messages within the seemingly simple text of her pieces, adding another layer of complexity to her work.
For instance, her work "Untitled (Your Body is a Battleground)" uses the phrase "Your body is a battleground" in bold red letters against a white background. This powerful statement is a commentary on the control of women's bodies.
It's possible that Kruger might have also hidden a more subtle message within the piece, perhaps a reference to a specific event or statistic related to women's rights.
This additional layer of meaning would reward viewers who take the time to examine her work closely.
I’m personally thrilled I would be able to see Kruger’s work late in 2024, In a commissioned work that harnesses ARoS's distinctive architecture, visitors will be immersed in the dynamic impact of Kruger's large-scale textual art, enveloping the Level 1 atrium and extending outward.
Kruger's provocative texts will not only dominate the museum's space but also venture into Aarhus, adorning the cityscape with their presence on various urban structures including banners, billboards, and building facades.
Wrapping up
As I look back on that summer and the countless hours spent with friends, deciphering the undecipherable box, it strikes me how our lives are surrounded by mysteries waiting to be solved.
The stories of ancient Greece, the pioneering works of net artists, and the innovative projects blending old and new steganographic methods remind me of the human drive to hide and seek knowledge in plain sight.
In our digital age, where information is both ubiquitous and ephemeral, the art and science of hiding messages take on new forms and meanings. Artists and cryptographers alike challenge us to look beyond the surface, to find the hidden layers of meaning in our interactions, artworks, and the world around us.
The pursuit of these hidden messages, much like my childhood adventure with the mysterious box, teaches us not only about the ingenuity of human creativity but also about the joy of discovery.
Whether it's a secret message tattooed on a slave's head in ancient Greece or a digital artwork hiding a story within its pixels, the quest for understanding and the thrill of revelation are timeless.
While researching cryptography and steganography for this post, I was reminded that the real treasure lies not in the gold or secrets we might uncover, but in the stories we create, the mysteries we explore, and the connections we forge along the way.
Just like the muses, the stories of hidden messages and invisible codes inspire us to look deeper, question more, and dream bigger.
As we accelerate exponentially our modern landscapes of information and art, let’s carry with us the curiosity, the camaraderie, and the ceaseless quest for the wonders hidden just beneath the surface.
That’s all for today. Thank you for joining me in this rabbit hole. Until next time, take care and create, by any art necessary.
PS: Did you find the hidden image on this post?