Remnants
The associative meaning behind my eclectic wall art collection made from old fabric remnants
Clothes help define our sense of self. When we move, we pack our clothes. Allowing us to remain ourselves in a new space. Clothes contain memories and contain us. Becoming a capsule, inhabiting our memories. Our brain recollects significant memories in the most descriptive ways. When we recollect an exceptional or traumatizing experience, we can remember and describe what everyone wore.
I designed this nostalgic wall art collection with a few concepts in mind, such as the association between these eclectic old textile remnants and flashbulb memories, and its correlation to relationships and intimacy. This wall art collection was also inspired by my childhood experience working in a small clothing factory in Santiago City, Dominican Republic, the many colors I saw, and the patterns I dreamed of, over the years.
According to Britannica (2016), association is the general psychological principle linked with the phenomena of recollection or memory. This principle is a mental connection between concepts, events, or mental states that usually stems from specific experiences. Association is correlated to textiles because the clothes we wear when we have emotionally impactful experiences become forever associated with the clothes worn during the event. Among the fabric remnants, I chose pieces from clothes I wore to special events with my husband, my children, and other important events of my life.
Eclectic colors and patterns tend to be bright and vibrant due to their high saturation, which means they contain a good amount of pure color with little to no amount of gray. This style is often used to attract attention because it is highly visible and stands out in the environment. According to Dzulkifli (2013), color is the most important visual experience to human beings. Colors help us in memorizing certain information by enhancing our attention."
The association between these several-years-old textiles, and the memories I have with the people who have changed my life, result in stronger bonds and relationships. What makes this collection intimate is that my husband and children can recollect some, if not most of these memories among us. Making this art collection an archive of memories only we have access to explore. Leaving the world to wonder what memories lie behind each remnant.
Reference
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2016, June 10). association. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/association-psychology
Dzulkifli, M. A., & Mustafar, M. F. (2013). The influence of colour on memory performance: a review. The Malaysian journal of medical sciences : MJMS, 20(2), 3–9.
Fernandez, S. (2023). Old fabric remnants collection. Yokatci Upcycle Design. https://www.yokatci.com/old-fabric-remnants-collection
Klein, Stephen (2012). Learning: Principles and Applications (6 ed.). SAGE Publications. ISBN 978-1-4129-8734-9.
