Matter

Checkered fabric
Furry earflaps
Visual dialogue

Objects and their representations engage in a continuous conversation.

“Art is not a copy of reality, but a creation of reality.” – Benedetto Crocea

Designed to
Catch the light
Dazzle the senses

A physical reminder that we are more than just biological beings; we are beings who create, who adorn, who strive for beauty and meaning in the world.

“The world is not given to us as a finished product; it is something we actively construct through our perception, our actions, and our interactions with others.” – Erwin Straus

Everyday mundane
Intricate details
Lived experience

We grasp it, hang our garments, and move on, its presence fading into the background of our everyday existence.

“The everydayness of existence is not something to be overcome, but rather the ground upon which all other modes of Being are possible.” – Martin Heidegger

Curious interplay
Between the mundane
And the transcendent

The fire hydrant, a utilitarian object designed for a specific purpose, is imbued with a sense of individuality and warmth.

“Phenomenology is not a method, but an attitude.” – Edith Stein

Glass facets catching light
Sleek lines precise angles
Interplay testament

The light plays across the surface of the glass, highlighting its facets and revealing its hidden depths. It is a moment of stillness, a moment of contemplation.

“The color is not just a property of the object, but a quality of the experience itself.” – Erwin Straus

Knowing glint
Fleeting nature
Enigmatic expression

The constant pursuit of pleasure and novelty can lead to a sense of emptiness and despair.

“Dolls, perhaps more than any other object, demonstrate just how thin the line between love and fear, comfort and horror, can be.” – Susan Sontag

Fully present
In the moment
Playful juxtaposition

Art should not merely entertain us but should also challenge us to think critically and to expand our understanding of the world.

“The work of art is not a static thing in itself. It is a dynamic process in which the artist and the spectator participate.” – John Dewey

Culinary tradition
Enduring relationship
Visual narrative

The propeller, a tool of industry and exploration, represents our power to harness the ocean’s energy.

“The ocean is a wilderness, a vast, untamed expanse of water, where the power of nature is on full display.” – Henry David Thoreau

Dream object
Expressionless
Absence of ourselves

Objects often evoke powerful emotions and memories that can serve as metaphors for the human psyche.

“Objects are not just inert things; they are charged with our dreams, our fears, our hopes.” – Gaston Bachelard

In style
Day at the beach
Sun protection

This peculiar juxtaposition of the artificial and the natural, the inanimate and the animate, serves as a microcosm of the human condition, a reflection of our ceaseless desire to adorn ourselves, to project an idealized self onto the world.

“What is the greatest thing that can happen to a person? To be overcome by a new desire, to be drawn to a new goal. Then it is as if a wind were blowing through him, and suddenly everything becomes lighter and freer.” – Friedrich Nietzsche