Last week I went to Traversing the Lethe, an mfa thesis exhibition by Kathleen Scott Moore. This show was about the link between memory and mortality. In her statement, Kathleen talked about an African belief that there are two stages of death: first, when one physically dies and leaves behind their life on earth, and second, when everyone who remembers you has passed on. She showed this by turning the gallery into a hallway with a line of portraits across the walls on both sides. As you went down the hallway, the pictures progressively got more blurry and out of focus, and the wallpaper became more and more overgrown with plantlife. The wall at the end of the hallway was completely overgrown, and had a single picture of a floral pattern. I found the exhibition to be very interesting and well-done, and I liked the nostalgic and vaguely creepy kind of feeling it gave off.
I really like the concept of this piece. It's interesting how many people deal with fading memories; we've seen it in a few projects this semester. I think Kathleen Scott Moore captured the feelings of becoming a memory and then fading into nothing in a very interesting way. It's a dramatic topic and yet her frames and wallpaper all seem to give a sense of peace and almost mundaneness. Is that a word? You know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteI love Kathleen! her work is so beautiful while still maintaining a strong, thought out concept. Her cyanotypes are so well crafted, and the presentation of the show was lovely.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this exhibit. The photos are very beautiful in an interesting and almost sad way. I recognized some of the faces in the photos too, so it was a little added surprise. I also really loved the handmade wallpaper! It was a very subtle detail, but astonishing how it took up the whole wall. I think this really pulled the thing together.
ReplyDeleteSaw this show too. Really loved how the images faded away as the viewer began taking steps away from the image. Very nice touch. It help keep the concept solid. Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteI was very sad I missed that show. It seems really cool. I am very glad you chose to show the progression of the show in your pictures so that those of us who were not there had a chance to take part.
ReplyDelete