This project delves into the entanglements between memory and space. A person’s perception of a place develops through direct observation and memory. Images and photography can connect the two through observation of a space after the fact of immediate experience. Working from this idea, this project presents a device designed to explore how memory recall and direct observation can interact to provide a new perspective on a spatial context.

I believe that the relationship between architecture and memory is intertwined as they influence and connect. Architecture shapes our experiences and also our memories, while memory gives meaning to architectural spaces. Through imagery, the boundaries between present and past blur, allowing different places to unite and create connections in space and time.

In light of the impending demolition of the esteemed Tai Hang Sai estate, a site of historical significance characterized by its remarkable architecture and vibrant community, this device seeks to facilitate a meaningful experience for both residents and non-residents. Intending to acknowledge the impermanence of this locale, it endeavours to assist individuals in engaging in the act of memory recall.

Inside the device, this moment is given shape by the marker of the memory images and a reference to current reality, which stands among and against the permanence and timelessness of the context. The scrolling motion mirrors the cognitive process of retrieving and revisiting memories. The device reconnects current reality and past recollection by transitioning from the present to the memory images. The live projections on the farthest left and right are much clearer than the memory image in the middle, echoing how through time the clarity of memory can be lost with the ability to differentiate what is present and what is memory.

The process of creating images through the device embodies an interplay of dualities, blurring the boundaries between past and present, remembrance, and questioning. The resulting images possess a quality that is simultaneously reflective and meditative, encouraging a discourse on the nature of experience and memory. This discussion embraces subjectivity and ambiguity, recognizing that memories are inherently personal and diverse. In this context, the spaces for recalling and experiencing memories emerge as byproducts of collective memory, contributing to the ongoing process of archiving and preserving our shared human experiences.