This open works is about making an installation in order to explore time. We need to show our understanding of time and how we install and present out ideas to other people. To finish this project, we have five steps. They are the following:

Initial 10 ideas: 

1. Shadow: I am interested in playing the shadow of something. The shadow may change because of the time and weather, also the shape of the item.
2. Mirror: mirror can create a sense of space, also the texture of the mirror and different material of the mirror can create different sense of engaging.
3. Light: The colorful light and using different shape of the cover can create many different reflection.
4. Domino effect: I like to play with the domino. A starting power can create a series of action.
5. Aeolian bell: The sound of aeolian bell is beautiful. The wind makes the bell sounding and shaking. Sometimes it transmits the information, such as if put the bell on the door, when it ring, will tell people that someone is coming.
6. Photographs: one photograph is 2 dimension, but if put many photographs in some way, it can create a 3 dimension stuff.
7. Imitation: sometimes people imitate others’ behavior subconsciously.
8. Glass bottle: using glass bottles can create many things. I like playing the sound of the different bottles.
9. Familiar sound: what’s people’s action when they heard some sound that they may heard it everyday, such as the sound of clock.
10. Clothes: using simple clothes to show the changing of time and create a sense of space.

Initial project description:

The subject of my project is box. The box is a container to save the memory. People choose a box and open the box by using any way. There will be some words on the box, such as a secret, family, best friend, first love…etc. Above the box, will have a red twinkling light. It creates a sense of space like in the human heart. Also I will put a camera next to the box to record the action of people.

This project is about revealing memories. It uses a container to explore the past time of people. Time is the main subject in the project. Time becomes a stuff can carry in a box, but also it is an imagination in people’s mind. People through the action that opening box to reveal the oblivious memories. My project is open to all the people. The context on the box is a clue or hint for people to reveal.

I choose this project because I think people may have some memories that they choose to forget it. Maybe it is a lovely memory that they will never experience again or maybe it is an impressive memory that happened a long time ago. The busy and unconcerned life make people become rational apathy, so my project is to help people to reveal their deeply memories.

Sketches and research:

Sketch:

Relevant research:

I did some research and an installation named Memory Box by Car Has Ji is also using box to be a container of memory.

Also, “Alison Saar, a Los Angeles-based sculptor and printmaker, created “Displacement Recollection Exchange and Archive of Mobile,” a four-part installation that occupies more than 1,500 square feet of space in Room 1927. She describes it as a platform for Mobile residents to recall, exchange and reflect on their personal memories about displacement and separation.”By Thomas B. Harrison, Press-Register

Soundtracks – by Stijn Demeulenaere http://stijndemeulenaere.be/soundtracks.html

The Singing Room – http://clocktower.org/residency/ranjit-bhatnagar-singing-room-for-a-shy-person

Connections to other Open Works:

One of the open work named Wall piece by Gary Hill is great combine the light and the powerful text and the action of the people, so it inspired me about using light, texts and human action. Also the Paul Pfeiffer’s art works are to invite viewers to exercise their imaginations onto the art object. It inspired me to create a sense of space and people can also engage in it.

Project Poster:

Time Poster

Images of the final work:

A reflection:

In this installation, I think it worked as my expected. People were get their own experience as I expected. All the coming people opened a box and they were happy to have this experience about revealing memory. If this were a prototype, in the future I will choose to develop more about creating a stronger stage for people to do this installation. I will change the video part and make it works and have some more developing of creating an environment. My installation is about revealing memory. It’s one part of the time. It shows how people be difference about perceiving of time.