AWAKE SOAP

MFA Project

Awake_diagram_01.jpg

The idea that the absence of a person can inspire others to become more present in their own lives deeply resonates with me.

While death is inevitable and beyond our control, what we can shape is how we choose to live during our brief time here. It’s essential to make the most of life. Since many of us, myself included, need reminders not to take life for granted, I decided to convey this message through something simple yet significant—a small part of our daily routine that could inspire people to live more fully, intentionally, and joyfully.

I chose soap as the medium to express the idea that absence can inspire presence. Soap is a familiar, everyday object—something that wakes us up and signals the start of a new day. Yet, it’s so routine that we often take it for granted. Think about how unpleasant it feels when you use a restroom, reach for soap, and there’s none. That empty dispenser instantly reminds you of how much you value its presence. Soap, in its simplicity, became a perfect metaphor for appreciating life’s often overlooked essentials.

 

After selecting soap, I chose food as a metaphor for a wasted life, since, like us, food has a limited lifespan and is often discarded without thought. We seldom witness food in its wasted, decayed state—it’s typically thrown away without a second thought and never revisited. If we consider food to be a form of life, it makes you reflect on how much life is wasted in this way.

Awake was exhibited at Stockton University's Visual Arts Alumni Triennial from July to November 2015.