PROJECT 2: DECONSTRUCT/RECONSTRUCT

The accumulation of objects.

Over the years I have accumulated a plethora of small trinkets, photographs, disintegrating blankets, faded receipts, keys - all articles I have a hard time tossing in the garbage. Endless debris sits in every free drawer, box, closet. Each item has a certain significance. What makes it worse is when you are a darkroom photographer in training: stacks of tests you spent hours working on, off prints, all beautiful in their own right, sit untouched, collecting dust.

What is one to do with all this significant rubbish?

I have always wanted to make a quilt, but I don't know how to sew. Can I make a quilt from frail garbage?

As a way to organize and repurpose my important scraps, I will cut 900-1000 1 inch x 1 inch squares and use modge podge to secure and organize them on a canvas, creating a visual quilt. For those items that cannot be cut, they will be attached using other creative methods. The final result will be a large scale 3D object. This object will give a second life to these special items whilst simultaneously decluttering my apartment.

PROCESS PHOTOS

MANUALLY CUTTING 1in x 1in SQUARES IS EXTREMELY TIME CONSUMING. EACH 50 TAKE OVER AN HOUR!

paper squares + other objects

AFTER 16 HOURS OF CUTTING...^

TEST LAYOUT:

FINAL WORK:

DETAIL SHOTS:

Precious Debris (2021)
24 x 36 inches

864 1in x 1in squares, predominantly chromogenic prints, that have been manually cut and glued on a canvas, then secured with a layer of modge podge on top.

I decided not to add any of the ready-made objects to the canvas, however, if this project were to continue I would make a sculpture of some sort with the remainder of the items and the two pieces would interact with each other, occupying the same space. With more time I would have attempted to do this for Project 2 but the collage took much more time than anticipated (40+ hours)!!

Themes the work explores:
The loss of memory and the attachment to objects.
Craft & labour, quilting. Repurposing, recycling, family heirlooms and photographs.
Constructing tableaux, still-life.

Is this a sculpture? This is a question I am struggling with. However, if I were to present the work, it would not be on the wall. I would show this work on the floor leaning against a wall, with the remainder of the tiles in front (like pictured). I like this idea of it being on the floor because it would change the way we interact with the piece, requiring that people crouch or sit to explore the imagery. PS- The sculptural piece I planned on making (epoxy resin cube) would have been near the piece as opposed to tiles in front. The remainder of these tiles will be placed in the resin cube. I may still make this!!! TBD.

Because the imagery is fragmented, it becomes quite ambiguous. For this reason I believe it could cause nostalgia or bring back memories for anyone who views it.