It is difficult to define ‘place’ or the notion of ‘place’ as it is to represent it, as to be able to represent something one must understand it and to understand one must feel it. It is safe to say then, that we must experience a place to be able to, or at least attempt to, interpret it. Place is connected with notions of belonging, identity and memory, while space offers an infinite growth and the explorations of the vastness of the universe, which then puts ‘place’ as part of space.
Furthermore, while place and objects define space, it is interesting to understand how the human tries to personify feelings, thoughts and images in touchable and palpable materials. This results in architecture and sculpture and on bigger terms cities. Within this, there is also the notion of home, an interior space and the house as a place.
Through writing and reading for my thesis, the idea of home- what it is, how it shapes us and triggers emotions is a subject that I am more and more drawn towards. I want to discuss and take the notion of ‘space’ beyond the tangible, towards looking at memory as space, a dream as a space and an emotion as a space within the home.
1 comment:
Hi Svetlana
You seem to have a slight resistance to referencing Armenian history particularly because people generally refer to the genocides and little else. This is understandable, however, is this a reason to resist its history altogether? Armenian history seems an important consideration when dealing with issues of identity and place. It may be something you need to address to avoid it becoming a ‘white elephant’. It could also help you change the perceptions of Armenia that irritate you.
I don’t know that much about Armenia but what I do know tells me its history could allow for fascinating research that would be relevant to your intentions and ambitions. As you will know Armenia, due to its location between two continents has been subjected to invasions by many peoples, including the Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Mongols, Persians, Ottoman Turks and Russians. Its position has remained the same yet its ruling powers have almost been constantly of foreign origin throughout the countries history.
What effect has this had on a sense of nationhood and this sense of nationhood on personal and collective identities? How is its long history reflected in its art, architecture and language etc? Survival and evolution of languages is interesting in relation political suppression.
How particular is its history? Are there other nations who have endured through similar histories?
How does all this relate to what you call ‘place’?
How do other cultural practitioners approach this issue?
You could look up similar practitioners like:
Writer: Simone Weil: The Need for Roots. Routledge Kegan Paul, 1952. Arthur Wills trans., preface by T.S. Eliot
Writer: Hélène Cixous
Artist: Maria Thereza Alves
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