The project origin
Held for a While is a social art journey exploring the ties between memory and items. The heart of the work features twenty-five ceramic plates that are temporarily adopted by local people to become part of their daily routine, merging artistic practice with common domestic life and ritual.
Concept design
Guests are invited to bring a ceramic piece home for one full year. During this span, the plate collects marks of life, personal narratives, and traditions. Guests record their journey via photography, recipes, or letters, creating a living archive that connects the objects to the community of caretakers who held them for a while.
Symbolic form
The plate is a universal icon of daily existence. It anchors celebrations and quiet meals, acting as a silent witness to our connections. Through act of care, a simple vessel is transformed into a carrier of memory, honoring the stories that happen around the dinner table every day.
Take part
Each participant receives a handmade vessel for a year of shared custody. We ask that you use the plate, document your moments with it, and eventually return the item to the project so its journey can be shared with various other people.
Archive
The archive traces the path of every object and keeper, creating a beautiful growing collection of shared memories and diverse cultural experiences.
Schedule
- 2026: Making the vessels and starting the adoptions. 2027: A year of care, documentation, and life across different homes. 2027: Return of the objects and the grand opening of the collective archive.
Themes
Co-Creation
Empowering participants as essential co-creators of the art, where temporary ownership is the defining element.
Memories
Seeing how everyday items evolve into carriers of personal narratives and collective recollections over time.
Objects of Care
Exploring the bond between humans and material, shown through daily use and mindful recording of life traces.
Storytelling
Preserving experiences through photography, prose, and shared recipes as part of a larger community tapestry.
Connection
Bridging the gap between private households and public archives, where deep meaning is collectively shaped.
Time & Change
Witnessing the slow evolution of an object during its year of adoption, gentle care, and final return.