On Longing Assignment

"The body is the primary mode of perceiving scale." This quote reminded me of an extravagant gown at the Ringling Museum because it credits both humanity’s judgment and vulnerability that are frequently concealed beneath immaterial layers.

"To have a souvenir of the exotic is to possess both a specimen and a trophy." Peacocks are exotic creatures, and the quote refers to the subjectivity in valuing one’s presence. People have diverse capacities for appreciating experiences.

"The place of origin must remain unavailable in order for desire to be generated." A few years ago, I visited this lighthouse set on an isle. It felt unattainable, similar to euphoric memories that cannot be replicated. As I remember looking at this quaint building from the rocky shore, I’ve come to perceive it as nostalgia personified. It represents a spectrum of conflicting emotion that I simultaneously view through rose-colored lenses and a darkened state of mind.

"The souvenir speaks to a context of origin through a language of longing, for it is not an object arising out of need or use value." I associate this statement with my trip to Disneyland when I was fourteen. Pleasure is its own language because despite being a universal concept, people don’t always understand why certain endeavors delight other people. In my childhood, Disneyland was a mere want, never a need and that is perfectly acceptable.

"The souvenir reduces the public, the monumental, and the three-dimensional into the miniature, that which can be enveloped by the body." I encountered this waterfall in Yosemite National Park. The phrase “enveloped by the body” struck me with a comparison: waterfalls are symbolically akin to mentality. Objectively, they aren’t the most interesting phenomenon, but their consistency overwhelms the viewer with peace. The part about transformation from three-dimensional into miniature can describe the psychological transformation after witnessing a somewhat intangible spectacle that is majestic for its simplicity.

Memento and Natural History of the Senses Relief Sculpture Assignment

This memento reflects loneliness in adolescence. The specific memory is derived from my 16th birthday and how I bought wisteria to hang on my garden fence. Hence, the color lavender amd the loops that were meant to resemble petals. The base is a teardrop shape with sixteen pearls, because despite my sadness, the atmosphere felt magical that night.✨ This relief sculpture visually communicates the elegenace and longevity of scent throughout history. The chapter I read--"Cleopatra's Heirs"--discusses several time periods regarding how fragrance influences social structure and overall aesthetic. The purple-ombre-braided yarn demonstrates how each era is tethered to the concepts assoicated with scent.

Memento Research and Inspiration

Artists In Order Of Appearance: Marcel Duchamp, Martin Azua, Sophie Hanagarth

Memento Reading Selections

--“So complete was Victoria’s state of mourning, she withdrew almost completely from politics for several decades and brought the whole country into mourning with her.”—“History of Victorian Mourning Jewelry”
--I relate to this statement immensely because I am constantly afflicted with insecurity. The queen’s devitalized reign is reminiscent of the memory of me staying in my room for three days with mere fantasy novels as company. Reading in isolation has become a peaceful companion and alternative to congenial affairs.
--“Once the admission information was taken the billet was folded up and sealed with the token inside, never to be opened unless a claim was made, meaning these little fragments of maternal hope were never seen by the children.”—“An Introduction to the Tokens at the Foundling Museum”
--This statement resonates with me, for it vaguely recognizes the different forms of love. I’m reminded of the first time a person told me they loved me when I was fourteen. It was not meant to be familial or platonic love, which I believe are easier declarations to construct, as there is less criterion involved. But the sentence explains how fragile hope is and how many people are obligated to repress their emotions or acknowledge them subtly through a conduit.
--“One could argue that design as a discipline is supposed to related to the world at large.”—“For Culture’s Sake” by Constantine Boym
--My memory associated with this quote entails my eighteenth birthday where I designed a dress for myself. I appreciated salient feedback from others, but ultimately decided to follow my own vision. I want to be content with creations prominently for execution of ideas, more than listening skill.

Organic Sculptures Assignment

Reflective Statement: Regarding the organic sculptures, I sought to communicate the inevitable exertion that accompanies height difference. The focal point and negative space were vaguely inspired by fairies, and how they have to frequently peer through awkward sites in flora to establish their surroundings. The repetition sculpture was inspired by folk music, for the thread spools and purple glitter glue still evoke that cottagecore aesthetic. In this era, I wanted to continue focusing on fantastical elements, despite its subtlety. I did not exactly earn the results that I wanted because I wanted each object to appear more elegant and organic as opposed to modern and synthetic. I chose a similar color palette to my earlier works, but I regret not selecting more earthy tones. My vision of I want to keep exploring structure and keep learning about materials. This piece allowed me to explore inventive solutions. The making of this work exposed new ideas such as inaccessibility.

Research and Inspiration: Organic Sculptures

Artists In Order of Appearance: Mary Button Durell, Elsa Mora, Weibach Two

Artists In Order Of Appearance: Bohyeon Min, ScenesbyColleen, Thomas Chamberlain https://www.artstation.com/minbohyeon,http://scenesbycolleen.com/,https://www.artstation.com/tck

Visual Symbols Assignment