the main form in entanglement is a simple, non-descript (to some) wooden brown chair, which has been used by generations of our family, and was recently packed up during a relocation. in the physical world, it has a worn patina from years of use, the grain of the wood worn unevenly such that some parts are smooth and others shiny; the paint is now uneven, and the legs are scuffed, worn away from a life of use.

the physical chair as it exists in reality is a simple object, perhaps easily overlooked, though the process of packing up a life and reminiscing during this period magnifies the meaning of the chair and pulls it (and other domestic objects) into focus. it is shown in an abstract way in this work to represent the time and memories it represents and their virtual and imperfect nature — a single chair is looped in algorithmic iterations to display multiple chairs, joined in various angles of rotation as they jumble and tumble over time as the work progresses. variations in lines and weight represent the form of the chair, indicating the connections and entanglement of lives and memories of the people with this fond piece of furniture. the colour of the chairs glows and shimmers with life. over time, and at varying scales, remnants and trails of human touch — impressions of fingerprints and scuff marks are left behind as time passes.

the work speaks to the patina of life, as an archive of sorts, the storage and transmission of memories held in the scratches, scuffs and bumps on the chair, of family gatherings, of time alone, of movement throughout rooms in the house, of holding of domestic objects — clothes strewn on the seat, bags held by the arms, papers and books stacked on the seat, legs tucked under bodies whilst concentrating on reading / writing / learning / talking; of family and friends as visitors sharing their news, and of being neglected at times, hidden in plain sight, whilst retaining its space in the room. the chair holds the memories of life, storing them in the wood grain along with carbon from the earth. the chair grounded us in the rooms, gave comfort and structure, whilst taking nothing from us but its own space, and helped create a place, a home

part of my sentimental chairs series

article originally posted on typed.art & published on my articles archive, aliakarchive.com