Recently I attended an event at the newly opened Rose Bakery in the 12th, well situated within the walls of contemporary art space La Maison Rouge. It was not the tasty appetizers nor the wine that whet my appetite. Nor was it the ‘tous cannibales‘ exhibition spread throughout the space. (Quite a shock to the senses for anyone attending!) What most captured my gaze and provoked many a thought was an exhibition by Chiharu Shiota entitled, From Where We Come and What We Are.
Hundreds of beaten up suitcases constructing what appeared to be a house; a form of shelter.
I could not help but to think of the lives of and behind these suitcases, where had they traveled, on what journey had they been, when and for how long. These vintage bags had many a story to tell, as did those whose hands they had passed through.
Chiharu asks ‘Do memories help construct us or do they prevent us from moving on?’ A good question. Personally, I choose the former.
what an interesting concept! I love this–I’m so tied to the past and to wondering about the lives of others.
pozdrawiam
That is a beautiful exhibit, wow…very thought provoking.
If suitcases could talk…I would love to know the stories behind each suitcase. Thanks for the great photos!
Kasia- Everything is enhanced by you any your wonderful
photos and writings
L. Angela
What an amazing installation, and commentary. I too choose the former. Though, sometimes I think the latter is also true. Maybe a mix of both (and a struggle between the two possibilities) is most true to life?
I agree. Sometimes the challenge is to let go of the past in order to create the future. And often one is carried into the next. If only we could always travel light…
I enjoy your blog so much!
Can you imagine the stories from all the vintage lugged?
Amazing!
~M
Classy & Fabulous
http://classnfab.wordpress.com
Thanks! I recently attended the Louis Vuitton exhibition and had the same sensation of history and many lives being lived. So thought provoking!
Absolutely, the former! Memories are what propel me forward. Memories make up our world!
Perhaps the key is to safely collect (and recollect) the old ones as we gather new ones…