Pimp My Passport

Sent in a proposal for Art+Communication festival in Riga in October. This year’s festival is about “artistic explorations within the invisible space of electromagnetic spectrum surrounding us” so I think an examination of RFID and passports could fit in nicely.

Here’s a description:

Pimp My Passport

The project examines DIY and hacking prospects as well as control and privacy issues of RFID passports currently being rolled out throughout the European Union. It also plays around with the notion of nationality and its symbols – seeking new ways to signal identity by “pimping” personal travel documents.

Although dealing with heavy subject matter like electronic privacy, big brother and nationality, Pimp My Passport is a playful, hands-on project that anyone can take part of.

For Art+Communication festival we’d like to propose a 1-2 day workshop with following structure:

1. Probing sessions using RFID transceiver to read passports remotely
2. Crafting of protective “Faraday cage” passport covers
3. Pimping sessions e.g. working on re-interpretations of national symbols used on passports and other decorations

I’ve already talked about this to some of you long time ago, but now that I wrote that much down I might as well blog it and see how the forest answers!

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Some related links:

• DIY transparent laptop case (airport security)
• Pimp My Bible
• RFID Passport Shield Failure Demo
• SERIALL workshop in Antwerpen and Gent
• SimplySwiss: The Swiss Passport