FRAGMENTS OF PRESENCE
duration: 25’ loop
multichannel sound installation with moving black drapery fabric
concept, musical composition, sound design and installation by Aimée Portioli
THE CONCEPT
“Fragments of Presence” is an immersive installation that explores the emotional landscape of grief, focusing on the theme of absence.
The work aims to establish a contemplative and introspective environment, inviting visitors to explore their personal encounters with loss and to connect with the universal elements of mourning.
In the installation, memories are portrayed as fluid and evolving entities, rather than fixed or permanent. Its content seeks to illustrate how memories are experienced and remembered amidst the backdrop of grief.
It strives to evoke emotions, provoke reflection, and foster a sense of connection with others who have undergone similar journeys of grieving.
By shedding light on the ways in which individuals navigate their personal experiences of loss and remembrance, visitors are invited to write messages related to their experiences of grief and loss. “Fragments of Presence” provides a space for visitors to externalize their emotions, thoughts, and memories, fostering a deeper connection with their own grieving process and encourages a sense of individual expression and emotional release.
THE SOUND AND THE BLACK MOVING DRAPERY FABRIC
As visitors enter the space, they are greeted by gentle whispers of memories. The soft, fragmented voices share snippets of personal stories and reflections on loss, creating a sense of intimacy and connection. Periods of silence punctuate the soundscape, signifying the void left by loss.
These moments allow visitors to reflect on their own experiences, fostering a sense of stillness and contemplation. Disjointed sounds and fragmented melodies intermittently emerge.
The drapery fabric is moved by gentle wind and resembles distant memories that appear in some parts more recognizable and in others lost. The ebb and flow of its movement accentuates the transient nature of our recollections, punctuated by irregular sounds and fractured melodies. Occasional echoes emerge, reflecting the inherent fluidity and dynamism of auditory fragments of memory.
THE ROOM
The installation takes place in a dimly lit room with minimalist decor, black walls and black ceiling. The audience can be seated on the floor on pillows or standing with the possibility to move around.
The centerpiece is a large hanging vertical drapery fabric positioned in the middle of the room that is moved by floor standing fans. The upright and vertical orientation of the fabric mimics the shape of a doorway, as if granting us a glimpse through the portal of our own memories.
The speakers will be standing or hanging in a circular form around the room, with sound coming from the sides. The four speakers are positioned in each corner of the room.
INTERACTION WITH THE AUDIENCE
To encourage active participation, visitors can contribute their own stories and thoughts related to grief and loss by writing a message. Pens and paper notes will be distributed on site.
The collected messages serve as a powerful testament to the collective human experience of loss and will be integrated into a future presentation of the project, allowing the narratives of visitors to become part of a larger work. By incorporating these shared stories, the installation creates a sense of collective expression and communal healing.
ARTIST STATEMENT
"Fragments of Presence" is an immersive installation born from the depths of my own personal journey through grief. In the summer of 2023, I experienced the profound loss of a dear one, a loss that left me grappling with the intricate emotional landscape of mourning. It was through this deeply personal encounter with absence and remembrance that the seed for this project was sown.
Grief reshapes our memories, blurring the lines between what was and what remains. I found solace in exploring my past, acknowledging its fluidity, and how it can both console and challenge us in times of loss.
My aim is to create a contemplative space where visitors can navigate their own encounters with loss and connect with the universal threads of mourning.
This work is not just an artistic endeavor, it's an emotional expression and a tribute to human resilience in the face of profound loss, emphasizing the power of emotions, and memories. Encouraging visitor contributions of grief narratives creates a space for communal healing, where individual voices weave into a larger tapestry of shared experiences.
The installation seeks to honor the memory of my dear one and to be a testament to the enduring presence of those we have lost, a celebration of the memories that continue to shape our lives, and an acknowledgment of the deep and universal emotions that bind us all.
EQUIPMENT TO PROVIDE
AUDIO PART
4 x high quality audio monitors with power cables
4 x regulable monitor stands
1 x audio card with 4 outputs
1 x steady computer with a DAW installed or a multitrack player like B.BEAT
4 x audio cables going from the audio card to the audio monitors (they need to be long enough from the audio card’s position to the corners of the room)
VISUAL PART
1 x large thin fabric, type of fabric and size TBD with Aimée Portioli
1 x hanging system for the drapery fabric on the ceiling of the room
2 x floor fans
