Memory Net
Paper cut installation
"Memory Net, Sunken Forest," Oddar Meanchey, Cambodia, 2019
“In English, we say we’ve ‘lost a memory.’ The phrase suggests memory has been dropped, misplaced, but not gone. A memory, a loss, may seem absent in our lives but still present in some other way, perhaps on an unseen plane of existence.
We say we ‘dredge up’ a memory. The memory sinks, drifts, but with the right line, we might catch it – an object pulled up from the deep. The Memory Net is a reoccurring temporary installation piece, approximately 30 feet in length and cut by hand from a single piece of paper. The artist travels with the piece and documents it around the world, each setting bringing new meaning to the work.” --Kascha Snavely, The Vestibule
We say we ‘dredge up’ a memory. The memory sinks, drifts, but with the right line, we might catch it – an object pulled up from the deep. The Memory Net is a reoccurring temporary installation piece, approximately 30 feet in length and cut by hand from a single piece of paper. The artist travels with the piece and documents it around the world, each setting bringing new meaning to the work.” --Kascha Snavely, The Vestibule
"Memory Net, Phum Prey Village," Svay Rieng Province, Cambodia, 2017
"Iida's reoccurring 30-foot-long hand-cut paper temporary installation/performance piece, the "Memory Net" has traveled the world, taking on new meaning and engaging communities in each new context."
"Memory Net, Koh Rong Island," Sihanoukville Province, Cambodia, 2017
"Memory Net, Fremont Foundry," Seattle, Washington, USA, 2017
"Memory Net: Pandémie"
October 2022
Galerie Lee
Rue Visconti, Paris, France
For this iteration of the Memory Net, participants were asked to suggest symbolic objects which reminded them of their Covid-19 pandemic experience. The objects were cut into the 10-meter-long (30-feet-long) paper net by Lauren Iida in Paris, during her exhibition, "Anticipation," at Galerie Lee in San-Germain-Des-Pres art district in Paris, France during the month of October 2022.
"Memory Net: Pandémie" (2022) Lauren Iida, Rue Visconti, Paris
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"Wall of Oil Barrels" (1962) Christo & Jean-Claude, Rue Visconti, Paris
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Iida was inspired when she discovered the exact site of Christo and Jean-Claude's first installation, "Wall of Oil Barrels" (1962) which was directly in front of the gallery she was exhibiting at on the narrow Paris street, Rue Visconti. "Wall of Oil Barrels" was created to protest the Berlin Wall by demonstrating how obstructive a physical barrier is to communities, separating loved ones and disrupting commerce. Iida strung her finished paper "Memory Net" across Rue Visconti and worked with photographer, Greg Mo to document the installation. "Memory Net: Pandémie" memorializes our shared Covid-19 pandemic experience through collective memories, and honors the historic work once here of Christo and Jean-Claude.
Photo: Greg Mo Photography
"Memory Net of Remembrance"
February 19, 2022
Densho Japanese Legacy Project
Seattle, USA
"The Memory Net “dredges up memories” which are expressed as symbolic objects “trapped” in the cut paper net. We can revisit these memories, then let them sink back down to the undefined space where memories exist. These could be memories of a place, memories of individuals or collective memories of a community. We don’t necessarily live everyday with our memories, good or bad, but the Memory Net project offers a way for us to temporarily revive and honor the memories which will always exist on some unseen plane of existence. The Memory Net Remembrance Project is part of an ongoing hand-cut paper installation series meant to create conversations surrounding topics such as homelessness, cultural identity, memory, and loss."
"Memory Net II: Home"
2018
Vestibule Gallery
Seattle, Washington
"Memory Net, Vestibule," Ballard Neighborhood, Seattle, Washington, USA, 2018
"Papercut artist, Lauren Iida created an installation as she worked in an open-studio setting. Iida invited the public to answer the question, “What object reminds you of home?” Over the course of the exhibition, Iida cut these objects into a 40 foot paper net installed in the gallery."
"Memory Jar" for contributions of symbolic objects from the public
Iida with finished Memory Net at Vestibule
After the Memory Net was finished, Iida took it to the streets of Seattle and did a photoshoot and temporary installation with homeless youth. Special thanks to Sanctuary Arts. Photos: Cameron Nagashima
