VISUALIZING TIME

INFORMATION: This timelapse was developed in order to portray a visual representation of the history of the universe in one imagery. The concept of time is a very complex idea and is very difficult to comprehend. How could I possibly show the history of the universe in just one image? So much has happened within the 13.8 billion years the universe has existed, and who am I to judge the importance of events that have occurred within that time? I’m just one person, who will live up to maybe 100 years at most. With that in mind, I distanced my personal existence and perception from the assignment, and I tried to view the history of the universe from an objective point of view in order to simplify it to one imagery.

INSPIRATION: Time has no beginning or end and is defined through different methods because it’s impossible to visualize time itself. I created a time-lapse of candles burning because it’s a representation of showing time both literally and metaphorically. The candle symbolizes time itself [existing before any action], by sparking it [Bigbang] it is set to motion, and even after the flames die down the candles will always proceed to exist. Time also moves at an erratic rate where it’s heavily dependent on external variables. I wanted to communicate how a specific time frame might seem so far away yet it will be gone before you realize it. That's the literal definition of everything but what if there is no beginning or an end. Conceptually we can't comprehend something we've not experienced and we exist within the realms of time therefore how could we possibly try to understand something that's beyond our limitation? It's like trying to reinvent the color wheel while incorporating colors we have never seen.

RESPONSE: Isn't there something beautiful yet sad about the presence of time fading away along with our very own existence? The valuable moments that individuals carry, in the bigger scheme of things will disappear without a trace unless we leave a recording of it. Without the recordings, the moment can no longer exist outside one's memory, in the present or future. We struggle to live for the better, through missing, regretting, growing from the past and being grateful for each every moment. We don't get to experience the present moment because we are mindlessly preparing for when the flames will eventually fade in the future. This project is a reminder and a recording of my present self. I am present alone reminiscing about the past hoping to see a brighter future.