Hi there,

Here is my living blog post on inspiration projects that inspire me for my thesis. I thought this would be helpful to organize the projects that inspire me. Please feel free to leave a project in the comments related to this theme: projects related to the sacred relationship between memories, objects, and place. How is a memory contained in physical objects and things? The relationship between the abstract and the physical? Thank you!

Or drop it in my Mural!

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Momento

  • Lacuna, a fictional company, takes the objects you associate with a person you want to forget and creates a map of that person in your head. This was another reminder that objects are a representation of someone’s essence. In my thesis, I hope to create a map of someone through objects
  • The difference between Eternal Sunshine and Momento also can inform my thesis. While Momento is built on the model that memories are pure information, Eternal Sunshine defines memories as feelings. Emotion is more important than raw data. In my project, I want to bypass the raw data about my someone and focus on what it’s like to feel someone.
  • Eternal Sunshine made me reflect on my memories that I wish to erase. Joel regrets going through a procedure to erase Clemintine. He realizes he would rather keep the pain she caused than pretend Clementine never existed. There are many times when I, as with many of us, feel Joel’s initial impulse— to erase someone— but in the long term, you realize that moment helped you become the best version of yourself. In my thesis, I want to capture the negative memories of someone that they may want to erase. These elicit the strongest feelings and are what best defines someone.

In & of Itself (Please don’t read if you haven’t seen it)

“If someone tells you the pen once belonged to Hemingway, suddenly this mundane object has a deep meaning and emotional power that you can’t really explain.” 

I saw Derek DelGuadio a few years back performing this act in-person. After, I was in awe—in disbelief with what I just saw. Watching the Hulu movie reminded me how special this experience was. It’s not your “typical” magic show. With few “magic tricks” (the tricks that we are accustomed to associating with “magic” i.e. card tricks), he performs the greatest “magic” show I have ever seen. In & of Itself and Derek DelGaudio captures so much with what I hope to achieve with my thesis. He introduces a variety of metaphors and objects to communicate his thesis: to explore the gaps between who you are, the image of yourself, and the image through the eyes of others. I love all of them so much.

  • He introduces his show with a tale of the Roulitista, a man who stands up in a room with a bunch of strangers as they watch deciding the value of his life, all the while he defies ridiculous odds by winning a rigged version of Russian Roulette. Derek is the Roulitista. We are all the Roulitista. We are all victims of the perceptions of those around us. Who has the right to declare that Derek is a “magician—” that this is a “magic show.” What matters is how Derek himself, how everyone views themselves.
  • There’s the five blind men each touching a different part of an elephant. They each think what they’re touching is a different thing. Little do they know, it’s the body parts of an elephant. But they never consider the elephant. What if this is a magical creature, Derek asks us. The metaphor is a bit convoluted, but I think it’s along the lines of people convincing themselves what they don’t know is something. People who assign meaning to others and those people assume the role of what others assign. We don’t see people who they truly are. We see people based on assumptions. We see ourselves through the eyes of others.
  • There’s the origami boat that he makes appear in an already-corked bottle. Something along the lines of lost at sea, unsure about who you are.
  • One more, the golden brick. He makes it appear on any desired street corner. Most will walk by it without thinking anything of it. “It’s just a brick.” Most will not even see it. Those in the audience will see the brick as so much more. They will be reminded of this show, a moment in time. It’s all about how who looks at it. Objects in our life are meaningless to some, for others those objects signify something special. “

There were two moments from the show that I think is excellent inspiration for my thesis. 

  1. The book. He asked one audience member in each show to leave with a book, tasking them to return the next day with their idea of what they saw that day, and how they imagine the show will end. The result is a giant book of everyone’s recounts and predictions of the show. It was beautiful to see an object go through many different hands, as people continue to layer their meaning on top of it. I want to make something that can go through many different people, with a composite meaning with each person’s hands.
  2. There’s the letter trick. I won’t explain this one. The essence is that what defines you are the memories you share with others. A letter is the richest manifestation of a person, a place, a memory.  

The show is about how people label you but everyone is more than just one thing. Exploding the box of labels that people put you in. With almost no “magic,” Derek performs the great magic trick of all time. He makes people feel truly seen. At the same time, if you boil down what he’s doing, he’s doing this through manipulation. That doesn’t matter. I can suspend my imagination and ignore his schemes. It’s okay that he’s manipulating. He’s performing the greatest trick of tapping into everyone’s emotions. 

He uses metaphors and objects to explore this idea. I want to use objects and metaphors to explore what are the memories that define people. I want to capture a sense of wonder, regardless if it’s fake. I want to make people see things differently, to see the special-ness in things. II want to perform Derek’s magic. What is the relationship between memories, objects, and places?

My brother-in-law told me a beautiful anecdote of his relationship with objects:

He said that sometimes, to never forget a special day, I assign an object to that day at the end of the day. This mounts the object in time to a memory. He even gave that object away to a friend that he shared that day with. Every time he goes over there, he sees that object, and they think of that day they had together. I love the concept of assiigning a day to an object as a way to immortalize that day. Then giving it to someone else so they have that day wrapped up in a ball with them. 

James Turell at the Guggenheim. The Minamidera Project. Pretty much anything James Turell. 

Though I didn’t visit while his installation at the Guggenheim, from what I have heard and read, this was a cathartic experience. It sounds like it was extremely meditative. I have seen his work at MoMA PS1, MASS MoCA, and Noashima. I love how he uses light to alter perspective, to question what you are seeing. It’s like stepping into a painting. It’s non-vicarious art, art that can be experienced if you’re in its presence. I especially enjoyed his Minamidera Project, an experience that takes you through a pitch-black room and has you sit on a bench looking at nothingness for 20 minutes. It’s quite relaxing to be alone with your thoughts. Over time, your eyes adjust, and things appear in the distance. 

I think I’m interested in a thesis that alters perspectives with light? Or without light? Something that changes your perspective of a thing. Does the experience change over time? That’s an experience more than a moment. 

“S” by Doug Dorst and J.J. Abrahms

A book covered in annotated notes in the margins of two individuals talking about the story of Book of Theseus. The conversation in the margins sparks a special relationship. The book, with napkin cut-outs, letters, tools, was a sandbox of notes, clues, and artifacts that were passed between the two in their search to solve the mystery of the story. 

The idea of passing an object back and forth and developing a relationship by communicating through the object made me smile. It’s optimistic and romantic. It reminded me of those that wrote their name in the textbooks. Sometimes they would leave a note for a future owner. Maybe I can explore that? 

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up  and everything Marie Kondo

People love Marie Kondo. I’m interested in her for my project. I bought this book and I am excited to read it. I’m curious to read about how suggests choosing what to discard. What are the objects that have a spark or joy? There could be an interesting experiment within this to explore my thesis topic. 

I love this quote: “By handling each sentimental item and deciding what to discard, you process your past.”

I am interested in Japanese shrines that collect meaningful things and the Shinto belief of Kami- the property is the sacred or mystical element in almost anything. It is in everything and is found everywhere, and is what makes an object itself rather than something else. The word means that which is hidden. It’s also about getting rid of things and coming to terms with those memories those things represent. 

Wand Experience at Universal Studios:

This was one of the first experiences that made me fall in love with theme parks. I love the wand pairing ceremony. I love how they create this magical, faith connection to an object. Then you can go around the World of Harry Potter, reciting spells and watching objects respond to those objects. I want to create that connection to an object and materialize the magic in a creative way with technology. 

Joana Vasconcelos

I love how she uses everyday items to create a composite thing that is bigger than the individual pieces. The product communicates something different. 

Objects in a Mirror Appear AR Closer Than They Appear ,

An AR playground of archaic objects that each had a portal to a memory. It was a playground that explored the relationship between memories and objects. A guest can walk up to an object, hold VR goggles up to itit, and this would expose a portal to the associate memory of that object. I love the concept of visualizing a memory and opening a portal from an object.

 

More works to look in to:

  • House of Leaves
  • Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
  • Personal Retreats and Esalen
  • Janet Cardiff