Held Briefly is an ephemeral sculpture made by freezing dead flowers and melted candle wax into a block of ice, then placing it on artificial grass under the sun. In less than an hour, the piece transformed completely. The ice melted quickly in the Arizona heat, the wax re-solidified into soft shapes, and the dead flowers were almost more alive in appearance. What was meant to preserve began to shift, soften, and dissolve.
The work reflects on the illusion of preservation. The idea that we can pause decay, hold beauty still, or suspend meaning in time. As the sculpture melted, it revealed that the act of freezing wasn't a way to stop time, but to briefly frame its passing. In this disappearance, the piece offers impermanence not as erasure, but as quiet transformation.
Gabriel, this piece is so beautiful and thoughtful! Everything from the placement to the colors is mesmerizing. The only thing that I would have loved to see more of is different items being used to compare and contrast how items can relate to one another.
ReplyDeleteThese photos are beautiful, I love the colors. Time is shown really well in this project by seeing the ice melt as the lighting changes to later in the day. I love the way the whole piece melts into the grass. Displaying it on fake grass in the heat is a great representation of Arizona. How it reshapes after melting is an interesting statement on change.
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