Treedrops, 2020
pastels, colored pencil, gold marker on printed photograph on paper
The brief for this project was to design a monument to the everyday which would be presented through a sketch. In researching, observing, and thinking about monuments I was confronted to their multifaceted and complex nature which makes them easily debated, and in some cases, highly controversial. The term “monument” is quite broad while also being vague, meaning it is easily manipulable. Anything can become a monument if you try hard enough.
I associate monuments to the act of remembering and, in turn, commemorating a moment, person, or event in order to make it last. Making eternal what is by nature, ephemeral. Monuments are humans’ attempt at grasping what is fleeting and maintaining control over something that is experienced in many different ways. Some of the most recognizable monumental forms are the imposing statue usually placed on some sort of pedestal, the grandiose palace, or the triumphant structure (such as the Arc de Triomphe). While these are attention grabbing and impressive artworks - which also honor a certain person/place/event - they limit the scope of what monuments actually are, or rather, what they can be. Monuments do not need to be extremely elaborate nor do they need to represent something big or eventful. Monuments can and should honor the little things in life, the vignettes and precious moments that make up the bulk of our daily experience. If we take the time to enjoy and savor these seemingly mundane moments, if we make the effort to search for the natural beauty around, to identify and pay attention to spontaneous experiences, then I believe we will make our lives just a little richer.
One of the “everyday” moments of our lives I believe we often overlook is our experiences with nature. Nature supports us in a multiplicity of ways, and yet, we never take the time to appreciate, let alone, honor it. That is why I chose to memorialize Nature in my design of Treedrops which depict several teardrop-shaped structures that would be placed throughout the city (I displayed mine in NYC, but theoretically these could be anywhere). Each structure would be made of glass, so as to let light shine through - literally and metaphorically. I wanted to make sure to highlight different aspects of Nature - not just plants and trees - and I find the way light interacts with our environment beautiful. Not only is it indispensable to live, but the way light penetrates through structures, dances, and changes nature depending on the time of day makes it even more alluring. The interaction between the three elements that make up this monument - the container (glass), the contained (earth elements), and time (which influences light) - create intriguing visual and sensual experiences, which can even be transcendental.
The greenery that is placed inside the structure - a blend of succulents, small trees, and plants the nature of which would be determined according to where the structure is located - is now given the attention it deserves. My intent is for pedestrians to not just stop and appreciate the aesthetic beauty of the monuments, but also reflect and question on the role of nature in our everyday. What would we do without greenery in such a concrete-heavy urban landscape? We definitely take for granted the greenery that exists in the city, so it is time we give it the attention it deserves. It may seem frivolous to simply encase natural elements in glass structures, but I believe that creating beauty in this way will actually attract more people to pause and contemplate. I chose a teardrop shape for the structures because I find these to be visually very appeasing and, of course, beautiful. And it goes without saying its connection to nature. As humans, we are hard-wired to appreciate beauty and seek it. Furthermore, the simplicity of these monuments advocates for celebrating the little things in life – the simple often mundane experiences, situations, and things that carry meaning and become beautiful when consciously and intentionally pay attention to them if only we give them the attention they deserve. In short, these are my “monuments to the everyday”.
The process of designing a monument to the everyday involved a lot of research for inspiration – compiling lists of artists and designers whose work spoke to the mood I was trying to emulate and concept I wanted to translate; gathering ideas, taking notes, and sketching multiple iterations to sift through ideas. Below are samples of this process – lists, observations, reflections, and drawings – all of which reflect my uncertain, ambiguous, and exploratory thinking.
