Overtime gift
2019
Hydrocal plaster, wood, metal, HD video
139 ¼ × 19 ½ × 21 in., 12:25 min
In this space, two existing brown-colored cast iron Roman columns from the late 19th century were painted white by the owner to blend into the space walls, becoming less noticeable. The columns symbolize architectural aesthetics, historical reverence, political ideals, and cultural heritage. Here, I recreated replicas out of plaster, wrapping the existing ones with eight blocks, connected by strong zip-ties. This was inspired by New York’s Jerash Column in Corona Park, the city’s oldest ancient Roman columns, a gift from the 1964 World’s Fair. A video plays between the columns, depicting a park with grand fountains and postmodern architecture, emphasizing modernist design, water jets, and a stainless-steel globe. Nearby the Jerash Columns, a family enjoys their picnic. The installation, illuminated by projector light, guided viewers to see the replica of a gift in the space. It links three eras of the columns' bodies and prompts reflection on what modernity heritage means over time.