Narrative/Story:
For my memory box I decided to highlight the most important people and memories in my life, along as my interests and my sense of home. The lid of the box tells the story by notes and letters I got since a young age until now, just showing those who’ve been there throughout all my life and have supported me in every phase of it. In the main side of the box I decided to tell my story by dividing the box in doodles of my childhood, teenage years, and now in my current life. I picture my home, Venezuela in as a bright loving place filled with family traditions and culture. Later I start telling the story about my graduation from highschool and new life in college by my interests and new experiences since I got here.
Objects/Materiality:
The objects and materials I chose for this artwork were very well thought. I started by collecting the letters from my friends in new york and placing them in the lid of the box. Later I collected pictures of letters I got while living in Venezuela from friends, family members, and teachers and printed them in black and white to show a sense of memory and nostalgia. In the other side of the box I decided to buy some scratch off paper with colorful backgrounds to represent memories and whats present. I used the black scratch off paper to doodle things I remember and think about when thinking of my childhood, adolescence, and my college life. In the white scratch off paper I drew the outline of Venezuela and the skyline of New York, two of the places that have shaped me as a person. Later I started collecting items that represented me, some holy water, religious items, personal beliefs, and my long life interest in fashion, as well as a polaroid image of my grandmother who’s been an inspiration for me throughout my whole life.
Layout/ Assemblage:
I wanted the lid of my box to represent the most important people in my life, those who have shaped me as a person and been all along the way. This way the bottom of the box could represent me being who I am because of all of them. I started my part of the box with childhood and home, people who shaped me, my country, and my traditions, then I started incorporating my interests in fashion making me end in New York and study in Parsons.
Opportunities/ Challenges:
My biggest challenge was without a doubt the actual making of the box. Which items to pick, which materials to leave out, and how to lay it out was a huge challenge for me to be able to express my conceptuality. I took the opportunity of using the items in my night table, because I feel that is something that represents me very well. In my night table I happened to have a corner with a photo of my grandmother along religious items, and in the other corner a flask and a bunch of jull pods. I felt this represented me and my life very well and the idea of memories, growing and traditions.
