The Enigma of Objects
A digital exhibition of everday objects with short reflections on what they evoke. Each edition is curated around a theme in order to examine material culture through crowd-sourced artifacts and stories.
Edition 1 / AT HOME : The pandemic has us sheltering in place, amidst a collection of objects that help us feel at home. Most objects we live with are chosen for their function. A select few escape mere practicality and acquire sentimental value. Even staunch minimalists reserve a category for objects that spark joy. How do morsels of materiality become vessels of our hopes, our nostalgia, our grief?
Edition 2 / CYCLES : Cycles operate within us and upon us. They can feel tight, like a week racing by, or long and drawn out – bringing us back to familiar beginings. Then there are cycles that continue in spite of us. Nature is full of cycles like this - a sun that arcs overhead and sinks no matter what the day holds; leaves that grow only to fall and feed new buds. How do objects embody these cyclic motions?
This project seeks to understand:
Edition 1 / AT HOME : The pandemic has us sheltering in place, amidst a collection of objects that help us feel at home. Most objects we live with are chosen for their function. A select few escape mere practicality and acquire sentimental value. Even staunch minimalists reserve a category for objects that spark joy. How do morsels of materiality become vessels of our hopes, our nostalgia, our grief?
Edition 2 / CYCLES : Cycles operate within us and upon us. They can feel tight, like a week racing by, or long and drawn out – bringing us back to familiar beginings. Then there are cycles that continue in spite of us. Nature is full of cycles like this - a sun that arcs overhead and sinks no matter what the day holds; leaves that grow only to fall and feed new buds. How do objects embody these cyclic motions?
This project seeks to understand:
- What kinds of objects become timeless and serve as reminders of who we are? How do they help us process our feelings?
- How do some objects stay relevant in a culture obsessed with disposability and innovation?
- Why do we hold on to heirlooms, artifacts, found objects, souvenirs, and what do they mean in the context of our own transience?
Submissions: To feature an object from your personal collection on this instagram-based exhibition, please send the following to enigmaofobjects@gmail.com or DM me on instagram:
* Submissions from past contributors are accepted. The curator may edit submissions for clarity and consistency.
Photography: Whether capturing your object with a phone or camera, photos should be taken under natural light, against an even backdrop, and in focus. A square photo framing the entire object is recommeneded, you may also include some detail shots.
- 2 photos of an object from your personal collection. See photo guidelines below.
- A short text on its significance and what it evokes for you. Max. 500 characters.
- Your name and city. You may use a pseudonym if you wish to stay anonymous.
* Submissions from past contributors are accepted. The curator may edit submissions for clarity and consistency.
Photography: Whether capturing your object with a phone or camera, photos should be taken under natural light, against an even backdrop, and in focus. A square photo framing the entire object is recommeneded, you may also include some detail shots.
- Ensure good lighting. Shoot next to a window during the day, in indirect daylight. Avoid harsh shadows from direct sunlight.
- Create a neutral backdrop. Drape a sheet, use paper, or shoot against a wall so the object stands against a background.
- Framing and focus. Choose a square frame on your device, if available. Keep steady, and check that the object is in focus.