future tense - remain

Remain is a series of assemblages created from discarded plastics and uranium glass. Balanced without adhesives, the works highlight the agency of the materials themselves, inviting reflection on how objects continue to act and exist beyond human use. In the wider project, models wear costumes echoing these assemblages, blurring the boundary between human and non-human forms. Through this interplay, Remain explores persistence, care, and the hidden relationships that shape our more-than-human world, drawing attention to the tension between human time scales and planetary time scales: while human life is short and fleeting, the materials and their traces persist far beyond our immediate perception.

Material History

Plastics

• Early 20th century – Fully synthetic plastics such as Bakelite are developed
• World War II – Demand surges for military use
• Post-war period – Oil-based plastics become lightweight, cheap, and easy to work with, becoming essential in daily life (the golden age of plastics)
• 1960s – New plastics such as celluloid emerge
• Present – Due to environmental concerns, biodegradable plastics and alternative materials are being developed

Uranium Glass

• 1880s – Produced for the upper classes, valued for its luxurious and distinctive green glow
• Early 20th century – Production expanded for general use, appearing in household and decorative items especially during 1920s-1930s
• 1930s–1950s – Use in everyday items prohibited in the United States under Franklin-era regulations and thereafter
• Mid 20th century – Established as collectible and decorative objects
• Present – Small quantities are produced again in Eastern Europe and Japan (Reason: A return to peaceful and stable times allows experimentation and revival
• Future - ??