Important artifacts....

 

The dictionary states that materialism, or being materialistic is "the theory or attitude that physical well-being and worldly possessions constitute the greatest good and highest value in life." While I don't adhere to this, I have a certain respect, appreciation and admiration for objects. Obviously the objects that we surround ourselves with reflect choices, and therefore represent who we are, where we've been, what we like and how we reflect our identity to ourselves and those around us. We hoard our possessions and our treasures in a private way. Even as I write this, a small glass jar terrarium, a postcard with the photo of an Iceberg off the coast of Newfoundland and a small plastic figurine of a penguin stare down from a shelf above my desk.

In this vein, I fell in love with Leanne Shapton's "Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion and Jewelry". This book explore the fictional love story of Lenore and Harold through a fake auction catalog of their possessions. It is a lovely display of personal and mundane objects, but when presented of such a clear picture of a couple through objects, a narrative forms. Their personal collection is numbered in lots, and a price is provided. It's interesting to think about who you would be, or what your life would be should you be presented as a series of objects or simply by your possessions.