Merıstėma Lab / Annarita Bianco Italy
Mnemonic Decay series: Silent Dance necklace
Piece created for Challenge 2022 Jewelry and Literature
Materials perspex, silver, VHS tape, silk thread
Size 60x40x13mm (pendant)
We imprint traces of significant events in our lives on magnetic tapes or digital devices, but what happens when they decay and we are no longer able to play back images, videos or words they contain?
Mnemonic decay explores the concept of loss linked to the decay of digital or magnetic memories. Engraved translucent perspex ovals hold the remains of VHS tapes, family memories videos now demagnetised and no longer reproducible. Laser-engraved words on silver foil enable the few available traces to be recovered: the date on the videotape label, fragments of images, distorted sound transcription re-emerging from white noise.
