The Obsolescence Project — The Usefulness of Useless Things
A 365 Day Photographic exploration of obsolete things, real or metaphoric. From the archaic Day 34 – Floppy Discs to beautiful yellow boots that I never wore… Day 152 – Rain boots
August 2015: I am presenting the project as a slide projection of thirty-one 35 mm slides, to represent one calendar month at the Vancouver Art Gallery Fuse as part of ISEA 2015. These images are currently featured on the front page of this site.
by Deanne Achong | @deanneachong
Initially begun as a 30 day project documenting things that are obsolescing in my life, I’ve now gathered steam and am continuing on until I run out of objects. Everyday I will photograph things hanging around in my studio (or bring them from my apartment) that I am classifying as either obsolete, or becoming obsolete. In a nutshell — clutter.
As an artist, I have kept a lot of stuff. Thinking one day it might have some kind of value. Not eBay value (although there’s that too) but become an idea for a project. Possibly I’ve imagined these things might magically assemble themselves into another type of object, present themselves to me as a story or at least a lead on a narrative that I want to pursue. I’m not giving up that hope, but I am hoping that by documenting their presence, I might detach from them and make the leap towards shoving (some of ) them out the door.
Things become obsolete so fast now. Obsolescence is deliberately planned into many objects. The camera I’m using to photograph these is already obsolete.
A Nikon D-5000. It’s only 12mb! I haven’t even figured out how to use it fully yet. This is also a goal for this project.
Inspired by a ton of blogs, Joseph Beuys and a story by Walter Benjamin whose name I’ve forgotten.
A Brief History of Stuff
A few years ago I spent about 3 months in Quebec City doing an artist-in-residency. Two things happened.
1. While we were away (we sublet our apt – my partner stayed in Montreal), our apartment was broken into. Nothing much was taken. The police said they were looking for cash. We realized we wouldn’t miss too much of our stuff.
2. 3 months passed.
When we got home, we seriously decluttered. We sold stuff on craigslist, in garage sales, gave a lot away to the Sally Ann, and threw out and recycled a bunch of stuff.
Fast forward a few years and here I am again with a bit of stuff I haven’t let go of.
I guess I am more attached to these things. I don’t perceive them as clutter, as they have “art value” (see above) or something like that.
I wished I’d thought of documenting all that stuff we got rid of then. I’m inspired to document this stuff now. I might not get rid of it though. We’ll see how it goes.
Author
Deanne Achong is an artist living in Vancouver, BC who has yet to throw away a lot of stuff.
Follow her on twitter> | Also on Insta
The Obsolescence Project by Deanne Achong is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://projectobso.com/.
I absolutely LOVE this idea! I to have a random and eclectic gathering of pretty awesome (at leat to my own standard) stuff-like things, may I use your idea as a project child of my own? I promise to link your blog and shout praise as often as possible!!? 😀
-aMY
Hi Amy, Thanks, I’m flattered. Of course you can start your own project, I would appreciate the link back to my blog:) I would however ask that you not use the name (Obsolescence Project also known as Obso project #projectObso hash tag) and that you don’t use the “Status/Kill-ratio/Alt-title” meme, which really is my own shtick:) Cheers and have fun. Send me the link.
Hi there,
Obviously your blog is a pretty popular place, but I thought I’d chance nominating you for a Liebster Award just in case you hadn’t been nominated yet! Learn more here: http://befasterblog.wordpress.com/2012/12/08/liebster-award/
Love the photography and the fun theme, so keep up the great work!
Ben
Hi Ben,
Thanks so much. Very kind. Cheers
Hello, I’ve nominated your blog for a Versatile Blogger award! If you wish to accept the details are here: http://winterowls.com/2012/12/10/colour-me-happy/.
I love looking at your blog, always so many fascinating things.
Jen
Hi Jen,
Thanks so much for the award and your compliment. I love your blog as well. Cheers
Thanks for the follow Deanne! Really like your blog – I love the concept, and the directions you’re taking it. It’s a great exercise in really seeing objects and the meanings they hold and acquire over time. I’d recommend a great little book to you: How Are Things? by Roger-Pol Droit. Phenomenology and poetry and beauty all rolled together into a lovely sequence of short essays on mundane objects. You’d have a month-long party (at least!!) in my studio … I have a large shelf devoted entirely to objects I have found odd/intriguing/potential fuel for work. Madness.
Thanks so much Sydney. And for the book reco – haven’t read it. Phase II of the project involves visiting other people’s stuff – so who knows:)
i have nominated your blog for the One Lovely Blog Award, because…it’s one lovely blog!
I am posting the award on 3rd september, so please go to my blog to read about the award, what the conditions are, and if you wish to accept the award.
i think you should!
Edwina
Hi Edwina,
Thanks so much. I will check it out. Cheers
What a unique and interesting blog! I’ll be returning for sure! 🙂
I really enjoyed the scroll…you have a fascinating site filled with crisp uncluttered photographs—all the stuff that (presented otherwise) would barely capture our attention. Thanks for posting.
Thanks so much John!
Hi, Deanne! Thanks for the follow. All I can say is you are a far braver person than I; I’m hoping you’ll inspire me to finally get organised and admit to myself that I’m never, ever, going to play those 299 cassette tapes of 80s songs that I never really liked in the first place. But then, what if I wake up in the night with a raging thirst for Kajagoogoo and Milli Vanilli? Not to mention Sigue Sigue Sputnik…
Frightening.
🙂 Thanks Glennie. True, these raging thirsts for such things can occur – but there’s always the interwebs for a Cure.
:))
Thanks for following my blog! I’ve been following yours for a few weeks and love seeing what you have lying around. Great photos, keep it up!
Thanks, cheers
Hi Deanne,
I nominated you for an illuminating blogger award. You can check it out at this link:
http://drewkail.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/july-spotlight-awardilluminating-blogger-awardgetting-a-new-job/
Drew
Thanks so much Drew! I’ll check it out. Cheers
Very cool project, Deanne! I had to move last year after 25 years in one studio/home. Just the wall in the studio where I had pinned layer after layer after layer of visually interesting ephemera was a challenge, much less the objects. I’ve had a similar “itch” related to curating/documenting/honoring/elevating the lot. Transformation of some kind that can transcend the “persona/ scrapbook” and create a real third thing that speaks to an audience larger than one. You appear to be well on your way to achieving something like that. I’ll be interested to see how it all unfolds!
Hi Walt, thanks so much, Glad you stopped by. 25 years of ephemera – that’s quite a lot. I’m visualizing layers of paint too:)
“As an artist, I have kept a lot of stuff. Thinking one day it might have some kind of value. Not eBay value (although there’s that too) but become an idea for a project.”
Ha! This is me. You are putting your stuff to good use though. Somehow I never quite navigate a way through mine.
Oddly enough, one or two ideas are percolating in my head while doing this project. Getting them out in to reality will be another story:)
Good point: I guess this is your project then. For me, not being an artist, I try to use that excuse and then shake my head because I know I’m just justifying all the junk I have 😛
Great idea!!! Love to see what you have been collecting. I love holding onto things. I try to be tough with myself, or my house would feature on one of those documentaries on TV about hoarders. Being good!!
I have a slight worry that folks will think my house does look like one of those shows:) But really, it’s kinda tidy. It’s just the closets….
Hey there 🙂 Thanks for stopping by my blog and for the nomination – I appreciate that!! Also .. thank you for the follow. I hope you find some recipes you will love!
Great idea you have … it feels awesome to get rid of “stuff”! I had a garage sale last summer to get rid of stuff and now I have more stuff to dispose of so i’ll have another garage sale and give the rest away.
Hi Deanne
Just to say I have nominated you for the Creative Chaos Award. Please do not feel pressure to accept but you are very deserving of this accolade (the creative part anyway)! Thanks for all the nice comments you’ve made on my blog too! Love your blog to bits! You can find details of the award here:
http://thefutureispapiermache.wordpress.com/awards/creative-chaos/
Just to say thanks here too! Cheers
I have an office filled with ‘inspiring’ objects that haven’t assembled themselves into actual projects also! This a terrific project to embark on, my bet says you have more than 30 days in you!
Thanks. Now that I’m on Day 20 – I do feel there’s a few more days to squeeze out. I’ll have to see what day 31 brings. Either a committment to a year or perhaps a weekly post.
Hey, I really like your aesthetic. Lovely photographs. And this is a terrific idea.
As an actor, I’m often called to costume myself for a particular role being auditioned. I am overloaded with clothes only used for that purpose or having some “sentimental” value. (Do I really need my sisters pretty baby coat? …the dress from my 1st wedding? Sexy blue jeans I’ll never fit into again, …ever.)
I push myself to clear a couple of large bags a year (sometimes more, sometimes less) but hesitate to do anything really radical. Naturally when something Is culled, that’s what I need a few days later. I keep thinking that if I leave the industry I will be hard-headed about de-cluttering. We’ll see.
Hmm. Would have been interesting to have had “art” photos of some of the wardrobe now gone to other closets. Ahh, well, those doors are shut now.