Definition from Oxford Languages
[lock-et]
noun
1. a small ornamental case, typically made of gold or silver, worn around a person's neck on a chain and used to hold things of sentimental value, such as a photograph or lock of hair.
Wikipedia defines a locket as: a pendant that opens to reveal a space used for storing a photograph or other small item such as a lock of hair. Lockets are usually given to loved ones on holidays such as Valentine's Day and occasions such as christenings, weddings and, most noticeably during the Victorian Age, funerals.
Brass, half-round wire, solder, horse hair, Soviet era portraits, photo transfer
Suspended
40" x 16"
In Bulgarian, mnogo pozdravi [phonetic pronunciation] is a phrase used to greet a loved one who isn't present in the room. It is commonly used in conversation & over the phone as a reminder they're being thought of.
This work consists of 44 found portraits from Soviet Era Russia, with a sibling portrait split in two. An additional photo transfer* is included. Brass rod is used to hold these photographs, each one fit & connected with wire bindings. Where the brass intersects, brown horse hair is braided over its joints. The piece is linked by a claspless chain on either end & suspended to cast a shadow onto itself.
The frame alludes to a mirrored heart in wrought iron fence architecture, appearing in Vancouver neighborhoods & existing across regions that utilized the material. The heart is a classic design that is easily shaped to depict a motif of the body symbolizing love, among other ties. Wrought iron was historically used to build structures, ships, & adornments for landmarks, meaning it had to withstand the wearing of time.
The act of being loved, remembered, & cherished is captured in a physical photograph, preserving souls intertwined by fate in this locket.
