Jason Hendardy
Jason Hendardy
this is a test
128 pages
62 plates
280x217x13mm
Gnomic Books
2024
About the Book:
This is a Test refers to the Emergency Broadcast System messages that aired on American televisions from 1963 to 1997. While these messages were intended to signal national emergencies, they also subtly influenced public perception and instilled a sense of controlled fear. Just as the television screen was a crucial tool to export culture from the West, it also served to maintain order domestically.
Growing up, operating the video camera was a family affair, and Hendardy embraced the role of its operator. This Is A Test is built upon Hi8 stills made during childhood, providing a glimpse into his family’s assimilation into American culture. Building on these are photographs made since 2020, often wrapped in golden light, reflecting on a present-day interpretation of Foucault’s “disciplinary society” and how structures may regulate and control us.
Images courtesy of the artist / publisher
Book review by Dana Stirling |
The Emergency Broadcast System (EBS), which operated in the United States from 1963 to 1997, was designed to alert the public to national emergencies, ranging from nuclear threats to natural disasters. These broadcasts were announced with a distinctive tone, followed by a message indicating, "This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System." While the intention was to ensure preparedness in case of a crisis, the psychological impact of these messages was significant. The repetitive nature of the tests, paired with their stark, emotionless delivery, created an underlying atmosphere of anxiety and controlled fear. The constant reminder of potential disaster subtly shaped public perception, instilling a sense of vulnerability and reliance on authority for safety. Over time, these broadcasts became a cultural touchstone, reinforcing the idea that societal stability was fragile, and that safety was contingent on external control. This psychological imprint of fear and surveillance echoes through This is a Test, as the artist connects the emotional weight of these messages to broader themes of control, identity, and assimilation, highlighting how such systems can regulate both public and private life.
Images courtesy of the artist / publisher
Images courtesy of the artist / publisher
This project evokes the eerie atmosphere of a horror movie scene—the kind where you’re staring at old, distressed footage just moments before a faceless figure emerges from the TV screen. It carries that unsettling feeling, as if the people in the images are no longer there, as though something sinister has already occurred, and you’re catching a final glimpse of their lives just before the scream (no pun intended). The work captures a sense of foreboding and absence, where the visuals feel haunted by what is left unsaid and unseen, leaving the viewer on edge, anticipating what’s lurking beneath the surface.
The use of vintage home movie visuals in This is a Test is particularly powerful because it’s so universally recognizable. Although I didn’t grow up in the U.S. and never saw these specific broadcasts, I come from a place where war and fear are ever-present. The experience of being glued to the TV, anxiously awaiting updates, is something I know all too well—the way it consumes your thoughts and emotions. To pair that tense feeling with something as innocent and precious as family footage is heartbreaking. The juxtaposition of nostalgia with the looming sense of fear and loss reveals a deeper truth: the loss of childhood innocence, or even societal innocence, in those moments. It’s a loss that continues to shape us, both individually and collectively. It alters who we are, and in many ways, it defines us.
Images courtesy of the artist / publisher
Images courtesy of the artist / publisher
This book weaves together a powerful narrative of culture, identity, and collective fear, while also unfolding as a deeply personal journey for the artist—one rooted in self-reflection, family, immigration, and the story of home. It’s this duality that makes the book so compelling. On one hand, it resonates with broader societal and historical themes, touching on the cultural anxieties that many people can relate to. On the other hand, it speaks to an intimate, personal experience, one that feels raw and vulnerable. This balance between the universal and the deeply individual invites readers to connect from different vantage points—whether through the lens of society and history, or from that tender, personal, and often naive space of self-discovery.
Ultimately, This is a Test offers a poignant meditation on the feeling of impending catastrophe and the suffocating pressure of conformity. Through its layered visuals and personal history, the work speaks to the challenges of belonging, the control exerted by societal structures, and the enduring question of what it means to truly find one’s place.
Images courtesy of the artist / publisher
