Hasan M. Elahi

Date of Birth: April 8, 1972

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Biography

Hasan M. Elahi is a Bangladeshi-born American interdisciplinary media artist whose work examines issues of surveillance, citizenship, and migration. He became widely known for his self-surveillance project, “Tracking Transience,” which he started after being mistakenly added to the U.S. government’s terrorist watchlist. Hasan has exhibited his work internationally at renowned venues such as the Venice Biennale, Centre Georges Pompidou, and the Tate Modern. He is also a professor at the University of Maryland, where he continues to explore themes of privacy, technology, and societal structures through his art.

5 Interesting Facts about Hasan M. Elahi

1. Hasan Elahi’s self-surveillance project “Tracking Transience” involves him continuously updating his location and activities online, making his life an open book to the public.

2. He was mistakenly added to the FBI’s terrorist watchlist after 9/11, which inspired much of his later work focusing on surveillance and privacy.

3. Elahi has received numerous awards and grants, including a Guggenheim Fellowship.

4. He has delivered talks at prestigious institutions such as TED Global and the International Center of Photography.

5. Elahi’s work is part of the permanent collection at several major art institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.