Modern & Im/material Things

“When what we are looking at are the expressions of other people’s inner lives, we also are participating in the relation between ourselves and others. The digitally present object—list, photograph, or note between friends—serves as a conduit for that relationship. Berger’s point, however, is that looking inevitably involves bringing oneself to the encounter. Visitors to the site construct narratives around these objects, and the speculative creation of these narratives can be one of the pleasures of Found. In whatever imagined context the audience creates, these artifacts offer a glimpse into the personal and human circumstances of everyday life. Something about the self is revealed or learned, and looking outward is a way of looking inside.”