Letters I’ll Never Send
(Series of 5, left to right)
-Letter to the Bluest Eyes in Texas
-Letter to a Shadow
-Letter to My Dead Mother
-Letter to an Absent Father
-Letter to the One Who Got Married
(Acrylic)
by Kiam Marcelo Junio
Installation shots by Heidi Norton
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Letters I’ll Never Send was borne of the idea that there is so much we want to say and share with others but we either choose not to, whether due to impossibility or discomfort. These 8x12 inch mirrored acrylic pieces are etched in my own handwriting (scanned, flipped, and burned onto acrylic), and maintain a deeply personal affect. The letters were written in a poetic style with help from several people, including my dear friend, poet, and ex-pat, Annie Le-Moussou.
When seeing the works, the viewer can read the letter and see his or her own reflection on the mirrored acrylic. This creates a conversation between the artist, the addressed identity, and the viewer, who is free to take on any of these viewpoints.
During my critique last week, my classmates, instructor and TA responded favorably to the pieces. I believe I elicited the reaction I intended - a sense of identification with both the speaker and the addressed person. It was mentioned that the letters have a universal quality to them, and are also general enough that anyone can find identification with them.
Other comments that were brought up: consider the flow from one letter to another, from one color to another (I used bronze and slate grey mirrored sheets). This I actually took very much into consideration while setting up. I intended for a somewhat lyrical movement through the letters, from one tone to the next, but all with a similar undertone. There is definitely a deliberate order to the letters.
Another comment made, with which I agree is the “cramped” feeling of the first and last letters. Next time I print these, there will be more of a margin around the letters to allow them better legibility.
One other comment that I will take into consideration is the mention of “Facebook” in one of the letters. Someone said it was distracting and took the viewer out of the moment. I understand this and perhaps will simply use “online” in a future revision. We shall see.
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iamkiam reblogged this from omgjerryblossom and added:
Letters I’ll Never Send (Series of 5, left to right) -Letter to the Bluest Eyes in Texas -Letter to a Shadow -Letter to...
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