What does the abstract form of memory look like? How can we visualize time? Inspired by the hazy atmosphere of dreams and the fleeting memories of our childhood, we recreated relics from our childhood to reflect on our past and present. Collectively, we chose memories that resonated with our immigrant background: summers spent catching cicadas in suburban Korea and Japan, a constant companion in a favorite childhood doll, being the “new girl” in a new school, forced piano lessons, and comfort in a favorite food made by Mom.

Choosing objects that represented these moments, we visualized particles that would take form for a fleeting moment, only to disperse and disappear – like evoking a bygone memory. Immersing ourselves in these ephemeral creations, we found that memory and identity are intertwined by threads of time. Materializing these fleeting moments allowed us to confront the bittersweet nature of nostalgia – acknowledging what once was and what has become. Each particle and each transient image echoes the universal longing to hold onto moments that inevitably fade.