In Smoke & Mirrors, Mr Phantom turns the mechanics of television news into a study of perception, power and selective truth. A faceless presenter sits within the order of the studio while, beyond the camera, fire and destruction unfold in stark contrast to the controlled broadcast environment. The camera becomes a boundary between event and representation, suggesting that what reaches the viewer is always framed, selected and mediated. Fine strings attached to the presenter introduce the language of the puppet, raising questions about influence and the forces operating behind supposedly authoritative voices. The work asks the viewer to consider not only what they are shown, but what may exist beyond the edges of the frame.
