(IN) - THE - MOMENT
A MOMENT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING
Being in-the-moment is often associated with mindfulness, yoga, and breathing exercises. While not a new concept, the interest in it has significantly increased over the past decade. For me, being in the moment is about how deeply we observe and therefore interact or engage with that moment.
The project consists of a sequence of immersive photographs and ceramic sculptures that meditates on the perception of time. The glaze presents a moment of spectacle that is captivating, using the amalgamation of color, scale and detail. Through extensive research of various oxides and layering of glazes, I have been searching for a sense of movement, motion, and depth. While the glaze presents a frozen moment in time, its exploration and observation happen over time. This allows for a rupture of chronological time and invites an
“in-the-moment” experience. A moment that keeps on giving aims to reveal new details and insights by way of ongoing observation.
"I find myself in New York City, at the Museum of Modern Art, As I walked into one of these timeless “white cube” galleries I got captivated by a particular artwork. I observed myself being amazed by the immense scale, vibrant colors, and layers upon layers of paint. It created a moment of spectacle with details revealing a world of its own, that kept giving new perspectives to explore. As I spent fifteen to twenty minutes immersed in front of this painting, I could not help to notice the constant stream of visitors pausing briefly for a photo, a selfie, or a quick glance before moving on. This made me think: what does it truly mean to be in-the-moment?"
Being in-the-moment is about the perception of space and time, it extends beyond a singular timeframe. A cumulation of moments together makes you feel you are experiencing the present. The project evolved into two distinct directions. On one hand, I designed the ceramic triangles. These shapes, though triangles, do not resemble traditional geometric triangles. Compared to other recognizable geometric forms like the circle or square, it change its shape depending on the viewing angle. The unique shape and textures within the triangle create the unpredictable visual effects I was looking for; the glaze becomes more sheer on higher points and puddles in lower areas. The ceramic sculptures can be placed as an object on the table or be mounted on the wall.
On the other hand, I transformed the ceramic glaze into another medium, the macro photographs. It was important to me that the photographs were immersive and recognizable, creating a captivating spectacle. While the photographs are frozen in time it has a sense of movement and depth, making you loose its sense of scale. They can be perceived both as individual moments and as a sequence of interconnected moments, forming a dynamic structure that challenges perception. This approach is my attempt to answer the question: How make people observe for just a moment longer than a glance?