Dump

Year | 2024

Medium | Oil on canvas

Size | 21.0 W x 26.0 H in

Additional Details | “Dump” captures the moment of ontological loss of objects once they are stripped of their utility. The piece uses strong chiaroscuro to depict a stack of discarded boxes in an alley, lit by a single beam, highlighted by strong chiaroscuro. There's nothing "important" in the pile; it's trash. But under focused light, it starts to look almost ceremonial. I was interested in the irony of these remnants; These boxes served as the essential guardians, protecting the items we waited for. We know that without their protection, the “valuable” contents would have lost their value long ago. However, the moment we get the “valueables” in our hands, they no longer serve as essential and necessary. I wanted to challenge readers to see that this dump is not just about piles of boxes, but also about artisans and traditions that once functioned as the essential guardians of the modern. Just as the box is discarded as soon as we get what we want, our historical roots are being dismissed as newer “improvements” arrive.