Leaving Behind A view from the present into an unexpected future

In many romantic Japanese films, love stories culminate in a muted climax, when a young couple declare their love for one another – followed by immediate separation, and the film’s end. Perhaps a declaration, as an expression, is the penultimate realization of love, as well as two lovers’ final shared decision. A pure, mutual act of agreement and climactic fulfillment of love, which must eventually fade away or be trampled by mundane chores and the lackluster routine of daily life.

Noah’s ark not only symbolizes survival and (hopefully successful?) confrontation with natural disaster, but also the ability to choose. We may leave or stay, give up or rise to the occasion and fight. Our ability to make educated decisions while dealing with uncertainty is being put to the test in this era, in light of the tumultuous reality we are currently experiencing.
In these times of absent or made-up truths, we chose to focus on choices. The decision to stay can often be the most difficult. We are not suggesting that you should escape, but we want to keep your options available.

The series displayed in this space examines and studies the repercussions of abandonment – it is a call to linger in the space of possibility, to confront our complex reality and be present on the wide spectrum of coping methods and potential choices. The hybrids of architectural fragments in this exhibition, taken from structures used in relation to rescue, survival and abandonment, highlight the most valuable resource we have left – the ability to choose. The objects invoke questions regarding the essence of leaving and being left behind.

Our primary fear should not be of what will happen to us in a new place, but rather what happens if we run out of choices. Do we want to live in a place where choices no longer exist?