WHISPERS

"Whispers" is a video work that explores themes of memory, decay, and the consequences of human actions through a mutual gaze with monuments. At a private construction site in Virginia, U.S., 43 presidential heads, once emblematic of authority and historical permanence, now lie damaged and discarded, each with large holes punctured through them during relocation. Their exposed steel rebars and internal structures metaphorically mirror the decay of the ideologies they once stood for.

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The video features audio recordings of whispering conversations collected from children, adults, and families who visited the site on U.S. Memorial Day. These whispers, filled with curiosity, skepticism, and reflection, create a poignant soundscape that contrasts with the monumental silence of the statues. The video reassembles the ambiance of 19th-century stereoscopes, designed for immersive viewing experiences. It delves into the concept of the 'post-monument,' contemplating what remains when symbols of power are physically and ideologically dismantled. The 'wounds' on these statues initiate dialogues about the shifting perceptions of historical narratives and the transient nature of memory and identity in our collective consciousness.

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Through this work, I invite viewers to engage in a mutual gaze with these remnants of the past, encouraging a dialogue about what we see, what we hear, and what we allow to fade into obscurity.