text by Tania Tsong de O'Pazo
Past and future overlap and at once become dislocated, here and there interconnect and are redefined. In such a temporal and spatial framework, time is no longer a single linear flow, but a complex tapestry composed of innumerable interwoven fragments of time. As Gilles Deleuze describes in his non-linear model in relation to time, our experiences are interconnected and multidirectional. Not only time, but space is also in a state of continuous flow and change. Sometimes here is far away, while there is right in front of us; sometimes there is unreachable, while here is nowhere to be found.
1. The Whole World Dissolves
A closeup of a flower and a map, a tool humans use to understand and conquer space, merge into one through the process of weaving. As a result, “the whole world dissolves.” The out-of-focus image reflects a world that is constantly shifting, amorphous, and liquid.
2. Lost in the Supermarket
The mundane plastic bag is meticulously embroidered stitch by stitch until its surface is completely covered. Thus, the disposable object is upgraded into a unique treasure through the warm touch of the hand. The title of the work comes from the song “Lost in the Supermarket” on The Clash’s 1979 album London Calling. Even years later, this song remains highly relevant as it perfectly reflects today’s consumer culture.
3. Deconstructing Happiness
Modern consumer behavior has been evolving as technology advances. Online shopping speeds up the buying process and doubles people's shopping desires. The stay-at-home economy eliminates the need to go out; with a click on the screen, purchased items from the virtual online world can appear at your doorstep almost instantly. “Deconstructing Happiness” describes this incomplete transformation from catalogue images to tangible reality.
4. Alphabet Soup
“Sopa de letras,” “alphabet soup,” in Spanish can also mean “crossword puzzle.” The magical, spell-able, and talking alphabet pasta always evokes childhood memories in me. In this series, miniature noodles are arranged on fabric to spell out lyrics from popular songs, with the letters repeatedly decorated and emphasized by colorful threads, akin to the meticulous gilded illustrations of medieval manuscripts. Familiar lyrics are transformed into sacred texts.
5. “I Want to Tell You a Secret”
An image that has been blown-up and repeatedly photocopied has likely lost its “aura,” in Walter Benjamin´s terms. Now, how can we recover its “soul”?
(F Studio, 2024.08.24-09.14) |
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