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Do not be fooled by its commonplace appearance. Like so many things,
it is not what outside, but what is inside that counts.
-Aladdin
I like to think objects are more than what they appear to be. They have a history, a story, which can sometimes can be significantly meaningful and hold a special place in someone’s heart. An object can hold a memory or a feeling that can only be experienced through it's presence. Though it may seem ordinary or humble that is not necessarily what is important. Like genie’s lamp in Aladdin, the outward appearance is not what made the lamp, itself, special, but what was within that mattered.
I find such beauty in simple, little objects. I love keys and the meaning of unlocking a closed door. I am enchanted by books and their ability to transport readers into new worlds or have them ponder new ideas. I am captivated by thread’s gentle, delicate nature misleading to it's inevitable strength. I am intrigued by the grittiness of old bottles and the idea of their history from being previously buried. I am mesmerized by the envelopes’ appearance, the handwriting on it’s surface, and their surprising durability after all these years. These objects hold such a rich history and have been present in so many lives, which may not be as apparent at first glance. People buried these objects, dug them up, mailed them, held them, signed them, read them, worn them, and so on. Yet somehow, they even continue to have their own life after the people who owned them are gone. They have survived though perhaps more worn or withered, they remain.
I chose to use candlelight instead of other, more common lighting methods because it enhances my concept concerning the livelihood of my objects. The candlelight illuminates them in a way no other light could. I believe it’s the flame that enhances the spark of their inner self. The light hits each of these objects and they each in turn soak it up in their own individual way. The bottles seem to both reflect the light and cause lovely obscurities on the bottles themselves that make them so interesting to look at. I also love the way the light hits the thread and the books’ pages, enhancing both the color and the withered appearance of each of them.
Overall, I feel that this series illuminates materials that are often taken as insignificant or that I find to be underappreciated. These objects are not only commonplace items, but they contain a deeper meaning. Their worth is much deeper than their appearance.