The Enigma of Objects
An ongoing editorial project involving everday objects with reflections on what they evoke. Each edition centres on a theme and examines 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 safe. Even staunch minimalists reserve a category for objects that spark joy. How do such morsels of materiality become vessels of hope, nostalgia, and grief for us?
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. What objects embody these cyclic forces in our lives?
Edition 3 | RECORDS : Music can release a flood of memories from bygone times. This edition focuses on recollections that live inside objects and nest in the sound waves they emit.
Edition 4 | MAGNETS : Objects carry a certain charge. They embody the magnetism inherent in our planet and can attract or repel. They remind us of polarities within us and serve as organizing forces in our lives. Things capable of setting up a gravitational field of their own, independent of the logic of time and constraints.
Edition 1 | AT HOME : The pandemic has us sheltering in place, amidst a collection of objects that help us feel safe. Even staunch minimalists reserve a category for objects that spark joy. How do such morsels of materiality become vessels of hope, nostalgia, and grief for us?
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. What objects embody these cyclic forces in our lives?
Edition 3 | RECORDS : Music can release a flood of memories from bygone times. This edition focuses on recollections that live inside objects and nest in the sound waves they emit.
Edition 4 | MAGNETS : Objects carry a certain charge. They embody the magnetism inherent in our planet and can attract or repel. They remind us of polarities within us and serve as organizing forces in our lives. Things capable of setting up a gravitational field of their own, independent of the logic of time and constraints.
Submissions: To feature an object from your personal collection, please send the following to enigmaofobjects@gmail.com or message me via DM on instagram:
* Submissions from past contributors are accepted for new editons. Curator may edit submissions for clarity and consistency.
Photography: Whether capturing your object with a phone or camera, photographs should be taken under natural light, against an even backdrop, and in focus. A photo framing the entire object is recommended, you may also include detail shots.
- 2 photos of an object that responds to the current theme. See photo guidelines below
- A short text on its significance and what it evokes for you. Max. 500 characters or 200 words
- Your name and city. You may use a pseudonym if you wish to stay anonymous.
* Submissions from past contributors are accepted for new editons. Curator may edit submissions for clarity and consistency.
Photography: Whether capturing your object with a phone or camera, photographs should be taken under natural light, against an even backdrop, and in focus. A photo framing the entire object is recommended, you may also include detail shots.
- Ensure good lighting. Place object by a window during the day, in indirect daylight. Avoid harsh shadows from direct sunlight.
- Create a neutral backdrop. Drape fabric, use paper, or shoot against a wall, so that the object stands out 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.