STATES – Collaging Memories
Anna Nikaki
Advisor: Simone Salvo
By questioning the purpose of documenting my life and deciding which memories hold value for the future, I developed my own modality of remembering.
Abstract
'States' is a collection of daily digital collages created with the intention to redefine how we document, archive, and cherish memories. With over 50 collages since this February - one for each day - these pieces offer a glimpse into my life in New York City. The act of daily collaging has evolved into a creative practice that allows me to orchestrate what I want to remember in the future and what I want to leave behind as imprints in the world.
Technical Details
A video that contains point cloud collages and is meant to be projected on a 7.8 X 9.8 foot wall. The projection is accompanied by the physical prints of the collages.
Research/Context
My research journey began with a curiosity about why we feel compelled to capture and preserve moments from our lives. My focus shifted towards unraveling the significance of memories and our selective recollection of life experiences. Exploring the reasons behind documenting a moment and the complex factors influencing our desire to revisit it, I embarked on experiments with various mediums and technologies during a visit to my family in Crete. From 3D scans to audio recordings, video footage, and sketches, I started to abstract and reconstruct the essence of these moments.
Additionally, I explored the concept of spatial memory, investigating how physical spaces can serve as repositories for our moments and how these can be experienced through space.
Alongside personal exploration, I found inspiration in the archival practices of artists like Shigeko Kubota, a pioneer of video art, who meticulously documented her life through video.
This led me to contemplate the possibility of curating archives that represent our essence and internalizing our sense of importance. Ultimately, my research highlighted the prospect of materializing memories in the physical realm, bridging the ephemeral with the tangible and fluid as well as preserving the important segments and overall feelings.
