Presence and Absence: The Space Between
Introduction: My parents died more than twenty years ago, yet they remain present in my life. My father’s love of language surfaces when I search for the right word; my mother’s fierce commitment to social justice lives on in my choices and values. For me, presence and absence exist side by side, shaping memory, identity, and how loss continues within us.
Exhibition Statement: Presence and Absence explores death as both disappearance and endurance. Fragile materials such as earth and water are paired with metal and stone, reflecting the tension between impermanence and our desire to hold on. Through sculpture, painting, performance, and participatory installation, the exhibition invites reflection on loss, memory, and connection. It asks: what legacy do we leave in the lives we touch, and how do we remain present even in our absence?
Community Project: Remember Me
Visitors are invited to write or draw reflections on pre-cut footprints, considering how we wish to be remembered. These footprints will be assembled into a toran—a South Asian entryway hanging symbolizing blessing and memory—creating an evolving collaborative artwork shaped by the community.
Exhibition Statement: Presence and Absence explores death as both disappearance and endurance. Fragile materials such as earth and water are paired with metal and stone, reflecting the tension between impermanence and our desire to hold on. Through sculpture, painting, performance, and participatory installation, the exhibition invites reflection on loss, memory, and connection. It asks: what legacy do we leave in the lives we touch, and how do we remain present even in our absence?
Community Project: Remember Me
Visitors are invited to write or draw reflections on pre-cut footprints, considering how we wish to be remembered. These footprints will be assembled into a toran—a South Asian entryway hanging symbolizing blessing and memory—creating an evolving collaborative artwork shaped by the community.