Ok, new idea. Still dealing with lockets but after talking to Endi, I realized that I am more interested in the role of a locket than the whole memory thing. I’m still interested in the memories and believe them to be important to my project, but I want the main focus to be on the lockets themselves.
So what is a locket? What are a locket's main purposes? When I looked up the definition of a locket, I got a fairly simplistic definition- a hinged container that has room to put something inside that is worn around the neck (either on a chain or necklace). After researching lockets for a while I found that most lockets are fairly mundane objects with no real insight to what it contains or what the memory is about that is inside. They are objects that at most have a very subtle hint to what they contain. The object inside usually gives a clearer picture, or at least a stronger reminder to the wearer of an experience, person, or special place. My idea is to reverse these roles. I want to create lockets that switch the role of the container and the contained, making the outside be the mnemonic device, and the inside be somewhat/ very limited in its relation to the memory at hand. I’m having a hard time deciding what should be inside though… I’ve contemplated blank sheets of paper, closed off interiors, interior with very small “insight” to the contained, view whole that shows part of the outside, or paper with a tiny hint to the memory.
During studio this week I have been sketching out ideas for lockets that would act as the “contained memory” and working on finishing my first locket. Pictures will be posted soon.
what if the inside of the locket contains something so precious or ephemeral that it would dissipate if the the locket was opened to expose it?
ReplyDeleteWhen I was reading about your idea for the exterior of the locket to be the main mnemonic device, i began thinking about what sorts of things trigger the most vivid memories for me. These things are usually things that cannot be captured and contained - like smells, textures, sounds and sensations specific to a place or person. These are the things that transport me back to a specific memory. If I were able to carry around the ACTUAL memory of a person, place, or event in order to revisit it, it would be something like this.
Im not sure if this is helpful or not.. we can talk more during studio hours. Cant wait to see what you are working on!