Carolina Aguirre’s installation remember member ember at The Mill is an evocative exploration of temporal and spatial belonging, weaving a complex narrative that interlaces the personal with the universal.
Her approach in transforming a once-functional space into a site of meditative reflection speaks to a deep engagement with the mythopoetic dimension of human existence. This installation not only questions but also poetically undermines the very notions of permanence and belonging through a series of meticulously crafted environments that stimulate a multisensory engagement.
The choice of The Mill—a structure inherently tied to the cycles of production and decay—enhances the thematic undercurrents of Aguirre’s work. By integrating columnar sculptures that resonate with the building’s original architectural elements, she creates a liminal space that straddles the real and the imagined. This dimly-lit, calcified forest acts not only as a backdrop but also as a protagonist in its own right, reflecting the continuous flux of nature and human presence.
Aguirre’s work effectively brings the viewer into a direct encounter with ‘traces and ghosts’ of past existences, engaging with the building as a corporeal entity that has witnessed countless transformations. The installation prompts a contemplative journey, encouraging visitors to reconcept with their sense of place within a broader ecological and historical narrative. The sensory elements of the installation—subtle shifts in light, the texture of the sculptures, the ambient sounds of decay—are all meticulously orchestrated to amplify this dialogue between the viewer and their surroundings.
In her philosophical engagement with the site, Aguirre draws from the reflective traditions of thinkers like Carl Jung and Robert Macfarlane, whose writings about the fundamental connections between human consciousness and the natural world find a visual and spatial counterpart in her work. This installation is not merely a passive viewing experience but an active emotional and intellectual engagement with the elemental forces that shape our understanding of belonging and identity.
